Thanks, Nikki. Uh, so we are going to get the party started here. Just fix my windows. All right, everybody. So, I'm going to call to order the regular meeting of the Nshoba Regional School Committee on June
18th, 2026 at 5:00 PM. And as always, we're going to start with the Pledge of Allegiance. You guys can mute and join me if you care to. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. So, the first item on the agenda is public comment, and I have received none. So, we're going to keep moving the
agenda right along, and we're going to head into executive session, and I'll turn to Scott for that motion. I move to enter executive session at 5:02 p.m. Pursuant to Mass General Law 30A paragraphs 21A3
to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation. If an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares with respect to unit A
collective bargaining session to include the school committee superintendent Downing, assistant superintendent Ross McCarron, assistant superintendent Laura Friend, and Director of Human Resources Jessica Murdoch. committee will return to
regular session at the conclusion of the session. >> And I'll second that motion. Is there any discussion? >> All right, we're going to take the roll call. I vote yes. Scott, >> yes. >> Shandor, >> yes. >> Jillian, >> yes.
>> Not Kirk. Matt, >> yes. >> Lexi, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Joel, >> yes. >> Sharon, yes. Robin, did I lose you? Robin,
maybe. But she's here. And I think Lenny popped in and now I think you might be gone, but hopefully he'll rejoin us in executive session. Um, so that's a majority though. And we're an executive hanging on. >> Hello. Hello.
>> Hello. >> Yes, Leah. >> Yeah. >> Hi. I tried, you know, I was on hold forever, so I tried calling in and then I got put in some kind of waiting room. >> Oh, is that you, Lenny? >> It was me. It is me.
>> I'm sorry. That's okay. We're back in the regular session, so you're not too late. We're about to vote publicly on the M OA. >> Okay. Um, you know, I didn't I didn't get the email. I know what the original one was. If you somebody could just highlight what the differences are, if
it wouldn't take too long. >> Um, so we just had that conversation in executive session. Um, >> okay. You're in public session now. >> We are. Yeah. I'm sorry. Um, Lenny, I will you and I I think need to work a
little harder at getting you like situated with the technology and making sure that you can access everything because everything's going to come through the Nishoba email. >> Okay, that'd be good. >> Why don't we touch base um after the meeting to kind of figure out how we can best do that?
>> Okay, that would be good. >> Lenny, when did you leave executive session? >> I'm sorry, what was that? What time did you leave the executive >> Oh, what time did I leave executive session? I'm not. Um, I probably just left it a few seconds ago because I was
on hold and I think I was on hold in executive session. >> I think he probably um So, hold on one second, Shandor, because I think that you jumped out to try to look for your email, right, Lenny? >> I did. Yes. Yes. And so the email that I
sent to Lenny was sent at I think he probably jumped out at about 5:15. >> Okay. >> And then when you tried to get back in, Lenny, you were on you were in the waiting room, so you weren't technically ever back in. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So Shondo, he's now come back in
at 5:43. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Oh, okay. Oh, sure. For record. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, weird. Okay. All right. Is everybody ready to proceed? So, Lenny, if you feel like you need to abstain from the vote, that's totally
acceptable um because I know you have you haven't had any access to the document. It's up to you though um to but we're going to move forward with the vote. So, Scott, I'm ask you. Oh, >> I'm Oh, can I have a chance to speak or did every is that all is the discussion
um closed as well or? >> Um, so no, we're going to move to accept the MOA right now and then I will open the floor for discussion. >> Oh, okay. Okay. So, it's just a motion and then the discussion. Okay. All
right. So Scott, why don't you move? >> I move to ratify the unit A memorandum of agreement MOA between the Nshoba Regional School Committee and the Nashoba Regional Education Association
for the period of July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2029. >> I'll second that. And now I'd like to open it up for any discussion. So, Lenny, I'll start with you. >> Well, um I I didn't like the original uh
language because it left too much up to the faculty and I think that should be the prerogative of the administration. So, I'm I'm referencing the original language. I don't know, you know, what changes are in the current one. So, I can't speak to that at the moment. >> Yeah. So, the change that was made
definitely simplifies the language in that portion of the contract. It does still allow the faculty um the ability to vote against a schedule, but the language is far simpler at this point
and makes the process more seamless so that the if the administration seeks to change the schedule, it would require 51% of the faculty to object in order to strike it down.
>> Yeah. Um, my position is still in opposition to it because as I say, I think it should be the prerogative of the administration. >> Understood. Yeah. I mean, that is one clause of a very large contract. So, I I recognize your dislike of that language
and and we did definitely try to move in a different direction. Um, I think that the compromise is good and that it will bring about positive change that the administration is going to be able to lead. It's just going to be with
input from the faculty. >> Well, I mean, it sounds to me like they'll have a formal vote to veto it. And it's also the other thing I didn't like about it is the idea that they can um use what's the prerogative of the administration as a bargaining chip in
their salary negotiations. So I don't like it as a precedent. I I still don't like the language because it still gives the faculty uh veto power. I don't know how the faculty will vote. Um they may very well, I would think, go along with
I think it was four teachers that were opposed to the scheduling. So they may, you know, um, side with them. I don't know that for sure, but that certainly gives them some possibility for that to happen. >> Yeah. Okay. Thanks, Lenny. Is there any
other is there any other discussion from the committee? Uh, Scott, >> so I would just like to thank the Nishoba region, the regional education association for engaging in a thoughtful and constructive dialogue to arrive at
this new contract. Um, I think that the pay settlement is fair given the current economic environment and that the language in the contract represents the good faith effort of both sides to come to an improved contract. And I think
while it's not perfect, if we thought it was perfect, then they would be very upset and vice versa. So, I think the new contract represents a good compromise for both sides and I look forward to working with the education association for the next three years. >> Great. Thank you, Scott.
Any other comments? Um, I would just like to say thank you to the administration, thank you to the NREA, thank you to the negotiation subcommittee, U, Matt, not Jackie Reiner as well, myself, everybody put in a lot of time and effort. And, um, I do think
that we are now slated to have another three great years for the Nohoba Regional School, uh, district. in in working with our amazing educators and everybody who's covered under this unit contract knowing that the unit C
contract is the next um uh the next target and that we'll be hopefully begin uh opening up those negotiations probably in September. Um, so thanks everyone. >> We're not voting in terms of the salary
issue. Is that not on for tonight or >> So we're voting on the entire MOA and the um on the entire contract, Lenny, and that does include the salary increases, which is a 3% increase for each year. >> Okay. But you made reference to
something coming in September. >> Yeah. So this um this contract negotiation is for the unit A bargain. The bargaining unit we call unit A. And then we have one other bargaining unit in Nshoba called unit C. And all of those employees will be uh in the next
negotiation task. And um you know in in a perfect world we would have wrapped up unit A in say April and then move to unit C um immediately thereafter. But um you know one [clears throat] thing has to happen at a time. So, we've just wrapped up unit A and now we'll move on
to unit C. We'll work with those folks to get that uh going as soon as possible. >> Okay, I see. All right, >> great. All right, everybody. We're going to move to a vote. Um
Scott, how do you vote? >> Yes. >> Matt, how do you vote? >> Yes. >> I vote yes. Joel, >> yes. Lexi, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes.
>> Robin, >> yes. >> Shandor, >> yes. >> Sharon, >> yes. >> Lenny, >> no. Is this on the um contract language or the salary? >> What are we [clears throat] voting on?
>> The whole the whole contract. >> The whole Yeah. I I I don't want to sound negative toward teachers. I think they're excellent. They do a great job, but I do have concerns with this contract. So, I am going to have to vote no on this particular in this particular
situation. >> Okay. Thanks. Uh Lindsay, did I get you? >> Yes. And I said yes, I'll say yes, >> uh Jillian. >> Yes. >> Did I get everybody?
I think I did. All right, everybody. Thank you very much for all of the work that has gone into this. Um, everybody has been putting in a lot of time and energy and so we appreciate that. Uh, at this time, correct me if I'm
wrong because I've lost my agenda with the power going out. I think we have no other agenda items. >> That is correct. >> All right, >> I move to adjourn. >> Thanks, Scott. I'll second that. So, Scott, how do you vote? >> Yes. >> And I'll vote yes. Joel,
>> yes. and Lexi. >> Yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Matt, >> yes. >> Robin, >> yes. >> Shandor, >> yes. >> Sharon, >> yes. >> Uh, Lenny,
>> yes. >> I think Jillian might have popped out. All right, guys. We are adjourned. Lenny, we can touch