001Is that on? Yeah. Is it on? Okay, here we go. Um, I'm back. I was here a couple weeks ago. We had a minor glitch which we've taken care of with the contract. So, um, I'm here to present it. This is um, a contract with the um, school administrators association. Um, like all certified contract teachers and administrators, this is a contract that we negotiate a year ahead of time. So, this contract uh will commence um July 1 of 26 and it will continue for three years. Before I get to the wages, uh I want to just briefly address the work year. Um in the contract, there was sort of a hodgepodge of work years depending on what position you were in. And it's changed over the years and while not completely unheard of, it's somewhat
002unusual. Um and so what we were trying to do was sort of streamline that a little bit. And part of the reason too was to put the um the people who are really in effect 12-month employees. Those are mostly your principles, high school, middle school, elementary school, put them on a true 12-mon schedule so that um they have a they work all year. Uh but they also get a number of weeks of vacation off. And one of the drivers behind doing that was so in the middle of the summer if the superintendent wanted to call the principles together, she'd know who's on vacation, who's not, and can coordinate things. Um my understanding is that was a little bit of a challenge uh in the past. So uh that resulted what we did was we looked
003at similar positions in other uh work year other uh school districts what their work years were and we basically came up with two categories. one of which was you know the full year and the other which is a 206 uh workday position and then we moved people into one of those two categories. It resulted in a handful of people working a few days less and it resulted in some people working more and that becomes relevant when I talk about the wages why we've done something a little different there. So what we did with the wages in the first year is we gave a 2 and a4% increase. So a little bit less than everybody else to those people uh whose work year was actually going down by a few days. So best example is the
004high school principal work year um was I think 226. Um we were bringing it down to 220. So we have two categories 220 and 206. Um and as a result, the position only went up two and a quarter percent. Um whereas everybody else except for the assistant uh the high school assistant principles because they were kind of in the middle of the road was getting a 2.9% increase. So it probably averages around 275 uh for the year which is well within the parameters of where administrator contracts uh have been settling. And then in the second and third year, everybody just gets a 2.9% general wage increase. Again, well within the parameters of where other administrator contracts uh have been settling. On the insurance side, we did two things. uh one of which was to increase
005deductibles from uh 2,250 for an individual and 4500 for two people and family up to 25,000. Um so they will have to um um the deductibles will be higher meaning they have to contribute a higher amount before the plan kicks in. You're also going to contribute a little bit more before the plan kicks in. But when you increase a deductible, generally that brings the cost of the insurance down. So generally it's a net positive uh for the uh for the employer, the school district in this case. The other thing we did was added prior authorization for certain very high cost uh prescriptions. Um you know, a couple of reasons. One of which is to make sure it's right before we drop, you know, $10,000 a month on a prescription. Um and also um you know
006obviously trying to um save costs and and make sure that there's not waste. So we implemented that. We had previously negotiated that with the teachers. So we're just incorporating what we did with the teachers because their cost share the administrator's cost share is already over 20%. It's at 21.5%. We've agreed to freeze it at that amount, that percentage for the duration of the contract. Of course, as the cost of health insurance goes up, they'll pay a higher amount, but it's still only 21.5%. And the thought being the savings will reap from the change in the deductible as well as the prior authorization um frankly would will be more than it would have if we had increased for example a half a percent a year on the cost share. So that was the thought process there.
007There were a few other changes, nothing really earth shaking. Um in the teacher contract there is a provision um for something known as a prime plan. If you are eligible and in this particular situation only people hired before 20 2008. If you're eligible for a payout of sick leave, the sick leave will now be put into this prime plan which allows it to be used for retiree health insurance issues. And um it has certain uh beneficial tax treatment uh for the employee. Doesn't cost you a dime more. Um there's no additional obligation, but it has some advantages uh to the employees. Um we had an MOA on interim assignments. um there's a vacancy, you temporarily get promoted to a higher position. Um and we worked out the logistics of how that works. You stay in
008you and stay in the union. Your prior position is your permanent position. You go back to it. So we simply incorporated that by reference. Um there was an issue surrounding mileage reimbursement. Um we've simply agreed that people will have to submit time sheets. Um any out any outof town travel has to be approved by the superintendent. Um and um but um you know pretty pretty standard thing. If you if you drive in connection with your job, you'll get reimbured on an IRS mileage basis. So that's that's basically it in a nutshell. The administrators have approved it. Um and uh so now it is in uh your hands. Um I endorse the settlement. Um I think again I think it's responsible in terms of what's going on with other contracts uh around the state for similar
009employees um and continues to provide changes in the insurance plan to try to hedge inflation insurance. Happy to answer any questions you have. I don't know if you can elaborate just a little on how it'll allow you to manage the the summertime and what possible savings it might create for the new. >> So, um over the years, Straford's administrators worked largely different days. Some were 198 days and some were 206 and some were 2011. And they didn't have vacation days. They had what you called nonwork days. And those nonwork days were very hard to monitor. Um, it also made it really challenging when you looked across the state. Elementary principles are typically 12-year employees because you hire in the summer. So, it made it harder for our principles to do their jobs effectively when they
010were doing non-work days and they weren't around and as a central office person if you know Dr. Piazer or Dr. Dioro wanted to review hires in the summer and the administrators were not working, we couldn't get them together. We couldn't monitor or do those things. So most of the districts are either on just one, everyone's a full year for administrators or there was a two-tier model. So we looked at the two-tier model because department heads are kind of a unique um being and full year wouldn't really work for them, but we do need them to work a little bit more in the summer to write curriculum, right? So right now when we have them come in, we have to pay them. So it is savings for us to have them work additional days because they're
011already working those curriculum days. And it just allows us as leadership to be able to pull our administrators in during the non-school year and get work done which we have to do. Um it's essential, you know, for us to do. So that was really it. We just wanted a little bit more consistency and um it was very hard to monitor and over the years, you know, people have questioned whether or not people were working all of their days because it was really non-work days, not vacation days. You didn't put them in a system. Um, so that was that was just really for us to be able to >> So now it's all in a system. >> It's all in a system. They work. They put in per vacation days. People get vacation days. Um, we
012set the days for those department heads for, you know, I think 10 days after the school year and 15 days before the school year starts. So now we know curriculum writing and what we can do with that. >> But you did you say it starts in 2 26? Starts July 1st. >> Oh, July 1st. Okay. And then I think the vacation days are with superintendent approval, correct? >> Yep. Everything, you know, travel, vacation days, all that stuff is in there with, you know, approval, which it already is now. So, it's not a change. That's how the administrators, you know, work now. >> Um, it's just now it's not non-work days. They're actual vacations. >> And there was there was some discussion along the way about uh travel time. I don't know how the I don't
013know the final >> in the end the result is they have to submit sheets that show the travel and they get reimbured at the IRS rate >> based on certain criteria essential travel. >> So for example, let's say one of our teams makes championship again and we are having some buses and we're going to have principles drive to Moaggan and I'm making them go. They're not going just to go cheer the team on. they can do by the to go there and back and they will fill out that sheet that will get pre-approved by me and they'll be able to get mileage reimbursement which right now they don't. >> We classified it as a mandatory travel. >> Yep. Mandatory travel. >> Floyd, can you go over the part about prescript prescriptions again? >> Sure. Um
014there are some drugs um medications that are extremely expensive. I'm talking $10,000 a month, $16,000 a month. And for those drugs that are identified by the insurance company um you have to have prior authorization. Okay. So you know the insurance company goes through the process you know what's your medical condition. Is this you know the most efficacious drug for the particular issue? Is there something that might be you know just as good cheaper? Um and the insurance company would ultimately authorize the use of that drug. But it's it's um we're talking about a fairly small percentage of the medications, just those that happen to be extremely expensive um andor have, you know, potential serious side effects. >> And Floyd, correct me if I'm wrong, but any current administrator who is taking a medication that falls
015on the preo, >> good point. Yeah. >> Um grand that their grandfathered. So it's going forward. So, so I think one of the one of the and if I remember correctly, one of the examples they used was I think coepic >> which is for blood pressure >> diabetes. >> It's for diabetes. >> Diabetes and a number of people have been using it for for weight loss control. >> Um but it's not approved for that. So somebody who came to it who got a doctor's notice to use OEPIC as as weight loss, they would need to be a diabetic in order to get it. Um, so it's just ensuring they're using the medications for the prescribed uses. >> Correct. >> Thanks. >> It's the same thing we did with the teachers as well. >> Any other
016questions? >> Look for a motion to approve. >> So moved. Second by Mell. Second by Mr. Bryant. Any other discussion? A roll call vote. Mr. Gavan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ryan. >> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kenny. Yes. >> Yes. >> And power. >> Yes. >> Votes. Yes. Motion pass. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, we will move on to the second item. Uh these are some construction projects. Um and so, uh let's see. So, I look for a motion for the board to approve a filing of form DAS 1049, final grant application for Second Hill Lane Elementary School roof replacement fulltov voltaic project number 13809 RR/PV with the Department of Administrative Services, Office of Creative Administration, and adopting the following resolution accepting a project complete.
017be resolved that the Straford Board of Ed accept a roof and solar portion of Second Hill Lane school roof replacement photovoltaic project 138-109R/PPV as complete move by Mr. >> Second by Midell. Any discussion? So, so these projects, just so everybody's aware, um the board of ed has adopted a policy where uh we won't accept these projects until the board has all the paperwork. And with the um with the roof solar program, the roof combined uh solar projects, both need to be submitted at at the same time. when we when we accept projects before all the paperwork is in line or when we accept them separately it starts a clock ticking and and we have one year to get all the appropriate information um and and if we don't the title gets dinged 10%. So >>
018I just say procedure not policy because the board didn't pass a policy on it but we have a procedure that we need to have all of our paperwork so that we don't end up with a 10%. It's an ad administrative policy um that that that we've adopted just to ensure that everything is is is done so that there's it protects the town. It protects us and the superintendent has to sign that they verified that all the information has been submitted is correct and accurate. So before we move these forward, we've received that's why we have three tonight, two from the other week. We received a lot of paperwork from the town um at our request just to ensure everything's there. So that's why I wanted to get this on tonight's agenda um so we can
019get it approved so the town can start the reimbursement process. But um we even work with the town and the building needs committee just to ensure that these things move along. So um but that's why these projects here. So that being said, does anybody have any other discussions? No. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass unanimously. The second item um back two seconds. So the filing of form uh filing of form DAS. The board approves the file of the form. Filing of form DAS 1049 have final grant application for Worester Middle School roof replacement focal project number RR/PV with the department of administrative services offices of grants administration adopting the following resolution accepting the project as complete. Be it resolved that the Straford Board of Ed accept the roof and solar
020portion of the Worcester Middle School roof replacement photoic project number 138-108 RR/PV as complete >> so moved >> no second by Mr. Kennedy. Uh any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Pass unanimously. And the third uh the board of ed approves the following f filing of form BAS 1049F final grant application for Chapel Street Elementary School roof replacement photo botic project number 138-07 RRPV with the department of administrative services office of grants administration adopting the following resolution accepting the project is complete be it resolved that the Straford Board of Ed accepts both the roof and solar portion of the Chapel Street Elementary School roof replacement photoic project number 138-107 RR/PV as complete. >> So moved second by Mr. O'Brien. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I posted motion pass unanimously. All
021right. So those are done. The next step, uh, I'd look for I would look for a motion to enter into executive session, uh, for the superintendent's evaluation process. That executive session would include the board and the superintendent. >> So moved. >> Seconded by Mr. Cormier. Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I posted motion passing. All right. So this is the part for you guys. Whenever you're ready. >> All right. So, I'm going to look for a motion to come out of executive session. Mr. Dell, second by Mr. Kennedy. >> Uh, all those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass unanimously. So, uh, during executive session, we had an opportunity to speak with the superintendent. She presented us with some goals. Um, I have asked that she she uh allow the board to sit
022with them for a couple of days. Uh, we will we do need to vote on them. So, we will, um, ask any questions or whatever it may be during the next couple weeks. we will take them up at our next board meeting and vote on them at that point. So, I also wanted to make sure that the public had the ability to see them. Um, so they would be part of our agenda package um and part of the the public documentation. So, there will be no um no action this evening beyond that. So, I would look for a motion to adjurnn. >> So, moved by Mr. Medal, second by Mr. Cormier. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. And then before everybody goes, we'll just we'll finish up our conversation on this. You guys
023can tell me where you want to go.