Woodstock CT Café

The following submission and inquiry came from a Café reader. The source of the information was the most recent (12/5) Villager. – Becki

LEGALS
Legal Notice
Town of Woodstock
Receipt of Contract Between Woodstock Board of Education and Woodstock Association of Teachers ~ July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2012

Pursuant to section 10-153d, subsection (b) of the Connecticut General Statutes, on November 26, 2008, the Woodstock Board of Education filed with the Town Clerk of Woodstock a signed contract between the Woodstock Board of Education and the Woodstock Association of Teachers. The terms of such contract shall be binding on the legislative body of the local or regional school district, unless such body rejected such contract at a regular or special town meeting called and convened for such purpose within thirty days of the filing of the contract.

Attest: Judy E. Walberg, Town Clerk of Woodstock – December 5, 2008

What are the terms of the new three year teachers’ contract? What kind of pay raises are included? Is there any cost sharing of health benefits? What is the increase in cost to tax payers?

So now it appears that we have a contract with our local teachers’ union. As always the devil is in the details, so I can hardly respond to the questions that accompanied the submission without more information.

A quick check to the Woodstock Public Schools’ website <http://www.woodstockschools.net/> revealed a downloadable (not sure that is a word, but you know what I mean) PDF of the contract. Use the ‘District’ drop down menu tab, go to ‘Board of Education’, then select ‘Board Members and Information’. The 2009-2012 contract is at the bottom of the center section.

The PDF is 42 pages long, so there is no way I can attest to each and every detail. Much of it seems to be normal boiler plate contract sensibilities (i.e. definitions, procedures and authority delineations). What I did absorb seems fairly reasonable. I don’t have a copy of the contract that is set to expire at the end of June so I am unable to provide a comparison.

Below is the current teachers’ salaries and steps from the current budget for a base of comparison. I may be able to track down a copy of the current contract and will provide it for everyone’s reference when and if I’m successful. Between this and the PDF we should all have enough to mull over for awhile.

By Emily Abysinnian

Canterbury, Conn. — Many of the 35 fat cats, Swamp Yankee mutts and several pure bred hounds from Canterbury’s more fashionable district showed up at the Canterbury town bark and meow fest Thursday night to howl and yowl in favor or against a proposed dog pound ordinance that would reopen the town’s facility. The mutts and hounds are the same pack that has spoken out against more funding for the local library (see “Canterbury’s Lidoggery”).

The dogs have been peeing all around Canterbury to have a say on the pound since July, when the town switched to a regional service provided by the Northeast Connecticut Council of Governments to save taxpayer money by cutting the budget. However, six separate paw print petitions on the matter were submitted to town officials.

This canine pack and a dissenting group of felines will vote on the proposed ordinance, which could reopen the local dog pound, effective July 1, 2009, at a Dec. 16 referendum. Read the rest of this entry »

December 4, 2008

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As you may know Mr. Richard Foye will be retiring as Headmaster of Woodstock Academy at the end of the school year. The Board of Trustees of the Academy is in the process of searching for a new leader, and requests your participation in this very important effort.

While the Trustees have the final responsibility of selecting and appointing the new Head, they feel that broad community representation will enhance the process and help to insure that the best person for the position is chosen [boldfaced by 'A student'].

We would like to cordially invite you to meet with our research consultants, Dr. Mary Lou Bargnesi, and Dr. Doug Lyons on December 16, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. in the Bates Auditorium, to learn a bit about the process, and share your thoughts about the abilities and characteristics you would like to see in the new Headmaster, and what you believe the community needs [boldfaced by 'A student']. The schedule for the focus groups in on the reverse side of this letter (see below).

It would be helpful for us as we plan, if you would call the Main Office at the Academy at 860-928-6575, to let us know if you can attend, and at which session. You may also leave a voice message with Mrs. Kristen Willis, at extension 152 after 4:00 p.m. Should you be unable to attend the 5:00 pm. session please feel free to join any of the other groups marked with an *(Keep in mind that this is directed towards parents and the 5:00 p.m. session is for parents – A student)

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the search committee let me thank you in advance for your willingness to take part in this very important process. We appreciate both your time and your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Sandra Fredrickson, President
Woodstock Academy Board of Trustees
Read the rest of this entry »