LIVERMORE FALLS — RSU 73 directors made no decision Thursday on a request to “meet and consult” with the Education Association over educational policy concerning involuntary transfers of teachers in the new school system.
Directors spent 27 minutes behind closed doors with legal counsel, prior to meeting with teachers, to discuss legal rights and duties of a school unit.
They came out of that executive session and went right into another one with members of the Association and a representative from the Maine Education Association and the board’s attorney.
Transfers of staff is not a negotiated item in a contract but considered educational policy.
The union has the right to request a “meet and consult” session to ensure that the school board considers their employees’ comments and concerns before implementing or changing education policy, according to state labor law.
The duty to meet and consult is a mechanism for insuring employee input in non-negotiable policy areas and designed to improve the relationships between school committees and their employees.
MEA representative John Kosinski said that the administration didn’t really follow any policy that they know about.
“It appears transfers were done arbitrarily,” he said between executive sessions.
Board Chairwoman Denise Rodzen of Livermore Falls said that she would be sending Association President Lynn Ouellette a letter on the issue.
In other business, directors voted to approve the superintendent’s recommended meal prices. The idea of the proposal is to get closer to covering what it actually costs for a meal for students that pay full price, Superintendent Bob Wall said.
In another matter, directors voted 9-3 with Rodzen, Vicki McLeod and Mike Morrell, both of Jay, opposed to using Spruce Mountain High School campus designations of North Campus for Jay and South Campus for Livermore Falls.
Prior to approving recommended appointments, the board went into another executive session.
They came out and approved all appointments they took up with two with mixed votes. Directors voted 11-1 with Darcie Comstock of Jay opposed to Brian Kelly to fill the position of high school boys’ junior varsity basketball coach. Director Tammy Dwinal-Shufelt of Jay was out of the room when the vote was taken.
The board voted 12-1 with Rodzen opposed to Brian Dube filling the position of assistant boys’ football varsity coach.
Directors approved Gilbert “Specs” Eaton to fill the position of interim principal at Spruce Mountain High School North Campus.
The board ended its meeting by going into another executive session to discuss labor contract negotiations.
dperry@sunjournal.com
NOTE: This article was adjusted to reflect the coaching position approved for Brian Dube.
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