The Old Rochester Regional administration and school committee are up against considerable challenges as they begin to draft next year’s budget.
Preliminary numbers provided by Superintendent Doug White at the ORR committee’s meeting January 11 show that $495,000 needs to be added just to maintain services in FY 2013 – and this does not take into account lack of federal and E and D dollars available on the revenue side starting next year.
“As you look at what those increases are, about $302,000 come from health insurance increases and the Plymouth County retirement assessment for non-teaching personnel,” he said. With a projected increase of $221,013 for health insurance and $81,299 for retirement next year, “there are very little program changes and additions,” the superintendent explained.
“This is a draft, something we are working on readily. There will be several different changes as we move through this process and bring the budget to the different towns,” Mr. White added.
At the meeting, the ORR teachers’ union – the Old Rochester Professional Educators Association – made a special visit to the school committee with picket signs in response to stalled contract negotiations.
The ORR teachers’ three-year contract originally expired on August 31, 2011 – but the lack of consensus prompted the school committee to extend it for 60 days to October 31, 2011. However, the lack of progress on the negotiations spurred the school committee to petition the Division of Labor to supply an impartial mediator to help both sides reach an agreement.
The average salary of ORR teachers is $64,649 (for 2009-2010 school year), compared to $68,781 for the state – according to the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Currently ORR teachers’ health insurance is reimbursed at 80 percent, compared to 50 percent for Marion and Rochester elementary school teachers and 75 percent for Mattapoisett educators.
At the beginning of the school committee meeting, the teachers did not speak but held signs reading “Please Come Back to the Table!”, “Reasonable Health Care, Realistic Salary, Respectful Process” and “Our Rights Respected!”
“We are as eager to complete the negotiations process as you are,” said Chairman Dr. Peter Bangs to the teachers. “As you are well aware, we have sought mediation. The reasoning of the school committee is that we felt we’re not making progress. We have felt the tenor of the negotiations is less than friendly, let’s say. The last thing the school committee wants is a wedge between the school committee and teachers,” he said.
In response to the sign that read “Please Come Back to the Table”, Dr. Bangs answered, “We have no intention of leaving the table… We are not trying to delay the contract.”
In a discussion later during the meeting initiated by committee member James O’Brien – who wondered how the negotiations issues are affecting the school – both principals said the moods of the schools remain unchanged.
In other news, Superintendent Doug White said he is working to acquire a $500,000 innovation grant to help schools on a regional level systematically deliver technology services. He said he would know by mid-February if these efforts pay off.
In his report, Facilities Manager Steve Murphy said his staff discovered a cold water crossover into hot water system, which was causing the gas heater to expend more energy.
To handle the problem and build a more efficient system in the process, Mr. Murphy said he plans to run separate hot water systems in the kitchen, junior high and kitchen by installing an additional recirculation pump. He expects the costs will be paid back within one year due to energy savings. Also, Mr. Murphy reported that ORR has entered into a new utility contract.
In other business:
• Food Service Director Caitlyn Meagher reported that participation in the food service program ran at about 50 percent in December – about 3 percent less than last year during the same month. Her report showed that the program is projected to bring in a profit of $21,484.22 by the end of the year.
• The committee approved a number of changes to the 2012-2013 Program of Studies – including reducing the full year creative writing class to a half year, eliminating Introduction to Journalistic Reporting and moving students directly into Journalism if there is insufficient enrollment, replacing AutoCAD with Principles of Engineering, and eliminating of the course Art II.
• The committee approved a new Art graduation requirement to encourage more well-rounded students and bring the school more in line with the Massachusetts High School Program of Studies (MassCore) – a rigorous course of study based on high state standards.
By Laura Fedak Pedulli
