Budget committee recommends negotiated teachers’ contract with leave and stipend changes

The Brentwood Municipal Budget Committee voted to recommend the negotiated collective bargaining agreement for Swayze teachers (Article 2) at its Jan. 12 meeting.

Negotiators told the committee they worked to balance teacher requests with fiscal constraints. Rather than add a full new pay column for advanced graduate studies (CAGS) — which would have raised long-term salary costs significantly — the contract includes an annual stipend to reward additional certification without the large recurring budgetary impact.

Other substantive changes include clarified parental‑leave language that distinguishes use of FMLA, paid and unpaid time; broadened bereavement language changed from a narrowly defined list to “loved one” to provide flexibility; adjustments to insurance-contribution language tied to health-trust rules; an increase in personal days from three to four; and a change to retirement payout methodology (a payment tied to remaining sick leave rather than a 10%-of-average formula used previously).

Committee members asked about the contingency if voters do not approve the contract. Negotiators said that if voters reject the CBA, the proposed raises and negotiated changes would not take effect and the prior terms would remain in place. The committee voted to recommend the agreement to voters; the contract will appear on the warrant for voter approval currently scheduled in March.

What’s next: The contract recommendation is advisory to voters; if approved at the district meeting, the negotiated terms will be implemented according to the agreement.