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The board agreed to a 2-year contract with the REA which covers 2007-08 and 2008-09. Teachers will be retroactively paid for 2007-08 at the cost of approximately $278,000.

The new agreement will add an additional $83,000 to the 2008-09 budget. That money will be taken out of fund equity.

The board approved the contract on a vote of 5-2 following a closed session discussion. Trustees Michael Stobak and Jennifer White voted against the agreement.

“I have a philosophical difference with dipping into the fund equity to the degree we are with other contracts yet to be settled,” said Stobak.

Stobak also said he didn’t agree with the idea of bringing the contract to the table for approval without giving the board time to consider it and what impact it would have on the district.

Superintendent Joseph Beck said board members received packets approximately two months ago with five different scenarios and their impacts on the budget. Beck said during previous closed session meetings, the board discussed two of the scenarios the administration thought would settle the contract.

“By settling contracts with dollars we don’t have, it takes dollars away from programs to benefit children,” Stobak continued. “The decisions we do make at this table do impact children and impact the taxpayers that support this school district.”

White, who read from a prepared statement, said she didn’t agree with the contract that was agreed to or the process that was used to reach the agreement.

“This agreement, as written, could have been settled last August,” she read.

White said several members of the board originally stated the importance of health care concession and reform during the process, but when the time came, she said, those concessions weren’t made.

“The four members (Sue Hier, Kathy Wreford, Polly Wilson and Sara Murray) approved the proposal administration had set forth a year ago or one that was very similar,” White read, “irregardless [sic] of the budget shortfall, irregardless [sic] of the health care options presented to the board that could also save the district millions over the next several years and irregardless [sic] of the past year’s discussion. This board just nickel-and-dimed the students of this district with budget cuts instead of pursuing the savings many other districts are realizing by changing health care managers.”

Vice President Kathy Wreford said everyone involved worked very hard to make sure the teachers’ contract was fair and appropriate.

“I think that we have worked this entire year to look for as much benefit in the contract to the district in making comprises,” she said. “I think we have worked very hard to create something equitable.”

White said this contract would negatively affect student education, but President Sue Hier disagreed, saying education didn’t suffer last year when teachers were working without a contract.

“The proof is in the pudding,” she said.

Trustee Dale Chesney agreed with Stobak that the board should take more time to review the contract, but also said he would support it if they voted.

“My personal viewpoint is that it does include some reasonable tradeoffs,” he said. “It includes some concessions by both parties that in all, if supported, will help this district to step forward and move forward.”

Beck listed off the district’s recent accomplishments, such as Powell Middle School receiving Blue Ribbon status, the district’s Annual Yearly Progress, the increases in technological capabilities and more.

“Look at what we have done in the last four years,” he said. “In these toughest of financial times, we have increase our fund equity from $2.4 million up to $3.1 million.

“We are very cognoscente of the fact that we have to keep the teachers in the classroom and I think even with the reductions we’ve made we have done a great job of doing that,” Beck continued. “If you look at our achievement, look at fiscal responsibility during these tough times, I think this district has done amazing things. You can start with our teachers in the classroom, dedicated students, the support of parents. We have a lot to be proud of. We continue to achieve even though, as I’ve said, these are the toughest financial times I think we have had to face in a long time. We are still providing a quality education, an outstanding education.”

The district is still continuing contract talks with other employee groups in the district.