School Board to Discuss Collective Bargaining Strategy in Executive Session

The Board of Education will go into executive session at the end of its Tuesday meeting to discuss employee negotiations.

"This item is designed to have the Personnel Subcommittee to update the Board on  strategy with respect to collective bargaining with organized labor groups as well as unaffiliated staff," Superintendent Gary Mala wrote in an email to Avon Patch.

Executive sessions are private, but the public is welcome to attend the rest of the meeting.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the Community Room.

Routine items are also on the agenda for the public portion of the meeting, including the latest financial report; approval of resignations, leaves of absenses, transfers and new hires; and the acceptance of $450 for the Avon High School Theater program, as well as a bench press and piano for the high school.

The superintendent is slated to provide updates on enrollment, summer accomplishments, activities scheduled for the start of the school year and more.

Board members on the Negotiations Committee and the Avon Education Association are also in the process of . The contract expires at the end of this fiscal year.

Teachers, guidance counselors, school psychologists and speech pathologists are all considered certified staff.

The negotiations are taking place in private, as they are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Certified staff union members and the committee have until late September to reach an agreement before mediation is necessary. If an agreement still isn't reached, October marks the binding arbitration deadline, which will determine the final contract.

See the attached agenda for more information on the school board meeting.