North Adams School Committee OKs $17M Budget, Teacher Contract
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee on Tuesday approved a spending plan of $17,329,082 for fiscal 2018 that is offset by an appropriation of $250,000 from the school choice account.
The committee also approved a three-year contract with the North Adams Teachers Association after a brief executive session.
The contract balances out the wage and step schedule in year one and has 1.5 percent increases in years one and two.
The negotiations were done as interest based bargaining, where the two sides worked together in mutually beneficial talks rather than each side coming in with separate positions.
"When you don't have a lot of resources, it's better to all sit at one table and discuss possible solutions," Superintendent Barbara Malkas said. "I think for our first time going through it was very successful ... it allows us better planning as we go forward."
The success of the approach could be seen in the speed at which the talks occurred; the first meeting was on March 13 and an a agreement reached by April 25. Two subcommittees worked in different aspects, including the salary schedule.
Malkas said the changes in the salary schedule were to realign steps related to seniority and education that had gotten out of whack over the years, with a wide range in increases. The new schedule is designed to be more orderly and equitable.
"Our teachers have shown tremendous discipline," said Mayor Richard Alcombright. "Our increases have been marginal the last few years. ... Knowing what the committee went through, I'm really pleased with what I heard and pleased at this contract."
Malkas also went back over the budget for the full committee; the finance subcommittee had recommended the budget last week.
The spending plan is up 2 percent, within the limit set by the administration, and includes a consolidation of resources with the relocation of preschool classes into the three elementary schools (with the addition of a class for a total of six) and moving Grade 7 to Drury to create a middle school module with Grade 8.
A net total of nine full-time equivalent positions were reduced — two teachers and seven teaching assistants. Retirements and resignations reduced the number of positions being cut. The budget adds one preschool teacher, two positions for the middle grades and three early childhood registered behavior technicians.
"We're not spending a lot on things, we're already spending on people and the time of the teacher in the classroom," Malkas said, noting instruction is the biggest cost center in the budget. "However, when it comes to being lean in a budget, you have to look at positions."
Business Manager Nancy Ziter said the use of $250,000 to reduce the budget was something of wash with about $287,000 in choice expected to come in next year. The account will have about $967,000 going into fiscal 2018.
School officials continue to be concerned about continuing cuts at the state level and the possibility of more significant reductions at the federal level. The mayor said the city is down about $150,000 total in state aid next year.
"This budget allows us to keep the status quo ... but it doesn't allow us to be truly progressive," he said. "To take some chances and do some things."
Alcombright thanked the committee and school administration for their "great work, with very little to work with."
North Adams Public Schools 2018 Budget by iBerkshires.com on Scribd
Tags: fiscal 2018, North Adams School Committee, north adams_budget, public unions,
