[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6565502,"mediaKeyId","3218266-1177ca8c00bd3feb3bc7a164f53afa09","parentId",3218266,"title","Auburn School Committee approves first readings of four policy updates; consent agenda and calendar items passed","audioSeconds",577,"startMs",1054585,"endMs",1632296,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3218266-1177ca8c00bd3feb3bc7a164f53afa09&start=1054&end=1632","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3218266-1177ca8c00bd3feb3bc7a164f53afa09/thumbnail_1054585.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565502/Maine/Auburn-School-Committee-approves-first-readings-of-four-policy-updates-consent-agenda-and-calendar-items-passed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565502-3c67b460ebabbb76604f0b01dc448ab3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773592252&Signature=foYHBeLLxeqgcyBQ~JNoOFIsrKjqg589Btv8yYayw7JytrMspQhtybLGyGw72Xfo6ejyVsQHLVOZ0UaYwvJmIH~y8jRLHQ8Ce5xAh7Un1O4t2hW6D98SpWuEXy3ZtWUPVCvfwAQphEQpG-YGqNykMMmE1SZOb2VvB9OkWMFj5r6WjMB2vmSMDWkTc9nbUEiYtn8gihIX9wtX841pj~qaZSt-UwuFguwPzwnHgTX8gS26b59MiIPaI2AE9X0XaoYZ5cVftiiRo4nx5e4oa9tz3LLnGIjrU-Q9R5vQEB6qBDmOSHK6wcXYu-9M5K3h9~5ko6z-RquAujsejx38unF4Xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Auburn Public Schools","date","2025-05-07T22:30:48.16Z","article","The Auburn School Committee on May 7 approved first readings of four policy updates — personnel records and files (AUB GBJ), school closings and cancellations (AUBEBCE), professional staff hiring (AUB GCF) and joint procurement with the city (AUBDJ) — and passed the consent agenda, which included minutes from April 16 and April 30.

Why it matters: The policies clarify procedures for personnel records, give the superintendent greater flexibility on early dismissals, align hiring language with nondiscrimination references, and synchronize procurement rules between the school department and the City of Auburn.

Key policy changes discussed
- Personnel records and files (AUB GBJ): Committee members said the draft aligns district policy with the Maine School Management Association (MSMA) model and clarifies distinctions between disciplinary action and dismissal. The committee noted MSMA-provided court cases informed the approach to redaction and confidentiality for personnel records.

- School closings and cancellations (AUBEBCE): The policy removes a clause referencing “extremely unusual circumstances” to allow the superintendent to order an early dismissal for weather and other considerations. The revision also deletes a limited list of makeup options so the committee and superintendent retain broader flexibility (for example, extending the school day), and the administration said it will work with building principals and families on communication plans.

- Professional staff hiring (AUB GCF): Members questioned insertion of the phrase “illegal discrimination” and were told the language was adopted to stay aligned with MSMA model language. The committee added a cross-reference to the district’s nondiscrimination and equal opportunity policy and discussed legal hiring concepts such as qualified exigency that can justify job-related requirements.

- Joint procurement (AUBDJ): The policy was revised to match the city’s procurement policy as required by statute and to standardize definitions and thresholds for small, medium and large purchases; the committee said the school department’s purchasing practices were already aligned and this update formalizes the match in policy and format.

Consent agenda and minutes: The committee approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from April 16 and April 30. A committee member noted a discrepancy in the April 16 minutes where a motion to transfer $149,700 from the school department’s technology capital reserve fund was recorded as if moved but no motion language appeared; the chair said because the approval had been unanimous the minutes did not require a revote under Robert’s Rules.

Other items: Student-representative remarks highlighted senior events at Edward Little High School, including AP testing and graduation milestones. The committee’s city council representative said the City Council approved the school budget at its recent meeting and encouraged committee members to support a public referendum effort in June; he also noted a comment at the council that LA Arts funding to the city may be reduced and that he would follow up for details.

Votes: Each policy was approved for a first reading; the transcript records “motion carries” for each but does not provide roll-call tallies.

The committee confirmed the Health and Safety subcommittee meeting was rescheduled to May 19 and adjourned at 6:29 p.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Auburn, Maine, School Committee Meeting, May 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its May 7 meeting the Auburn School Committee approved first readings of four policies aligning district practice with MSMA recommendations and city procurement rules, approved the consent agenda and noted upcoming meetings and committee schedule changes.","taxTitle","Auburn Public Schools, School Districts, Maine","taxId",66949,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6565507,"Auburn School Committee ratifies three-year teachers’ contract with annual raises and expanded leave",0,1624155,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3218266-1177ca8c00bd3feb3bc7a164f53afa09&start=1624&end=1624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3218266-1177ca8c00bd3feb3bc7a164f53afa09/thumbnail_1624155.jpg","/articles/6565507/Maine/Auburn-School-Committee-ratifies-three-year-teachers-contract-with-annual-raises-and-expanded-leave","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565507-9729932a41da7f8646003acb5b1a21c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773592252&Signature=TvUS1SD5cSqjt2-Nrl7WyFjUIYoqjswZpwGN5b7ChAkuuuYPovdfNVzH5AeuU~x7Fpf-dUrSiMi5qXaMoZkHvELIKjYoNr7y6SKuCygBFLZbux61tFdSZgUPhgwvlaZ68PafDGP6V9KTvvdP1Ko8zE5Pt0cQuTvPmmwJTSXc64Z7~UdH16NOkQQsj1cJpZCut80nusMOJemDbggz82SjIZWbOgzXgAqAWeXn3P5eBa1UtTrKAPPYWN-P2jTDPgEYc85hCCoiYaAPG-rNGZ22yXLRgt6EtNZcgfLW-bRsNZJRefukkMmqe~lc7vo8WAxF~YfCpNtCRdHmQrC-9g7aZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Auburn School Committee on May 7 ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Auburn Education Association that provides annual salary increases, expanded leave and new planning-time and stipend provisions for teachers.

The agreement, negotiated beginning in November, includes a 3% base salary increase each year of the contract and 3.5% annual increases for off-scale employees, continued step increases, added planning time, and limits on staff meeting length. The contract also increases parental leave from 10 to 12 weeks, adds three bereavement days per year that do not count against sick leave, raises sick-day accrual from 120 to 130 days, and allows teachers to keep jury-duty pay. Co-curricular stipends rise 8.5% in year one and 3% in subsequent years, and a joint committee will review athletic and co-curricular stipends in years two and three to assess equity and competitiveness.

Why it matters: The contract affects teachers’ pay, benefits and work time across the Auburn Public Schools district, and the financial terms will factor into the district’s personnel budget and planning over the next three years.

Committee officials described the negotiations as collaborative. According to the committee’s summary at the meeting, other provisions include a $42 payment for teachers who cover classes during their prep time, increased retirement bonuses over the contract term and a $1,500 annual stipend for teachers and nurses who hold national board certification. The committee said it negotiated stepped increases and other supports intended to strengthen teacher retention and classroom planning.

The vote to ratify the agreement was called during the May 7 meeting. No named roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript; the chair announced the motion carried.

The committee said the contract reflects months of bargaining and thanked members of the Auburn Education Association and the school department negotiating teams. The committee did not provide a detailed cost breakdown in the meeting record; funding sources and the budgetary impact were not specified at the session.

Actions recorded: The committee moved to ratify the collective bargaining agreement between the Auburn School Committee and the Auburn Education Association; the motion carried. The transcript does not include a recorded vote tally or names of members who moved and seconded the motion.

The committee listed upcoming meetings and adjourned at 6:29 p.m.","At its May 7 meeting the Auburn School Committee ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Auburn Education Association that provides annual raises, additional leave, stipend increases and new scheduling provisions for teachers.","actionData","errors"]

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Auburn School Committee approves first readings of four policy updates; consent agenda and calendar items passed

Auburn School Committee ratifies three-year teachers’ contract with annual raises and expanded leave