Announce tentative agreement before Tuesday vote
By Kevin E. Foley
According to a joint statement issued by the Haldane Board of Education and the Haldane Faculty Association, cuts in programs and staff positions originally contemplated in the current proposed school district budget will be avoided through a new agreement between the teachers and the school board.
In part the statement read: “Assuming the successful completion of negotiations, programs and positions to be restored include two Elementary/Middle School Teaching Assistant positions, three modified sports (Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball), an assistant coaching position (Cross Country), and elective courses in Art.”
The announcement comes just a few days before the Tuesday May 20 public vote on the budget. Many parents had expressed upset at the proposed cuts in programs and teaching staff. While no details were provided as negotiations continue, evidently the teachers union offered financial concessions to allow for the restorations to be included in the currently proposed budget.
The announcement, however, is a tentative agreement as the parties work toward a multi-year agreement. But both parties were apparently confident enough in the final outcome, which will include a union vote, to make the pre-budget vote statement.
