New contract to be negotiated with SAD 58 teachers

To the Editor:

Last night at the Board of Directors meeting at Mt. Abram High School, two motions were made with regard to teacher contracts.

Motion # 1: “I move that the Board ratify the tentative agreements reached on language changes with the Mount Abram Teachers Association during negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement.”

Motion #2: “Having negotiated for more than three years with the Mount Abram Teachers Association, having participated in the three-step statutory dispute resolution process, having met on multiple occasions with the Association following receipt of the arbitration award panel as well as the Association’s ideas and counterproposals, and having made a final salary and insurance counterproposal that was not acceptable to the Association, I move that the Board declare that the Board is at a bona fide impasse with the Association on the issues of salary increases and insurance. Accordingly, I move pursuant to Maine law that the Board implement its last salary and insurance proposal made to the Mount Abram Teachers Association during negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement. The health insurance proposal will become effective July 1, 2015.”

These motions came as a result of three-plus years of failed negotiations on wages and insurance. In essence, this puts to end the protracted negotiations for the 2012-2015 teachers contract and allows the parties to move forward July 1 with new negotiations for the successor contract and a clean slate.

Next week, the teachers will receive their share of wage increases to date with the remainder being paid out in their summer salaries (totaling $175,000) which have accrued over the time of negotiations.

In a letter recently, Sally Bean, MTA President, asked the Board to settle outstanding labor contracts. Last night, we did. The Board is committed to begin again, negotiating the successor contract with the teacher’s association in hope of finding a speedy middle ground that benefits the students, teachers, and community.

Erica Brouillet, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools, MSAD 58