Board Vote, Teacher Contract (Results)

Tonight the Board voted 3-2 to approve the teacher contract that we first considered in open session back on April 7th.

There are things to like in this contract, including an improved evaluation system for our teachers. I'm disappointed, though, that the contract still does not address the most pressing issue facing our district- the increasing cost of compensation, including health benefits.

Later this week we have our first meeting of the compensation committee, which is tasked with looking at the long term compensation of the teachers. Hopefully that committee will have something exciting to share with us as their work progresses. Also, teachers will be voting tomorrow on a package of 3 furlough days that are essential to making the budget for 2010-11 work. I'm anxious to see the outcome of that vote.

My thanks to all those who reached out to me over the past several weeks. This has not been an easy process. Some of you disagreed with what I said, and I heard from many people publicly and privately that you were supportive of what we were trying to do. But in any case, I'm grateful for the engagement and the input. Keep those messages coming.