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Board votes to require ratification of memorandums of agreement; amendment to add letters of understanding fails
Summary
The board voted to amend bylaw 003 to state that agreements negotiated by the district negotiating team and subsequent memorandums of agreement are subject to board ratification (6–0). An amendment to require board ratification of letters of understanding failed (2–4).
The Rochester Community School District Board of Education voted Wednesday to clarify approval requirements for negotiated agreements and memorandums of agreement.
Mr. Murphy presented a proposed clarification distinguishing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) — described as substantial changes with legal or financial impact that should come to the board — from a letter of understanding (LOU) — described as minor clarifications requiring board notice but not formal approval. After discussion, the board considered a motion to amend bylaw 003 so that “all agreements negotiated by the team and all subsequent memorandums of agreement are subject to ratification by the board.”
The replacement motion carried on a roll call of six in favor, zero opposed. Trustees then considered an amendment to add “and letters of understanding” after “memorandums of agreement,” which would have required the board to ratify LOUs as well. The amendment failed by a 2–4 vote.
Board members who spoke for full ratification said they wanted transparency and to avoid post‑hoc contract language being added to negotiated agreements without board review. Other trustees and the administration argued the distinction allows the district to address operational, time‑sensitive clarifications (for example, short‑term staffing or stipend issues) without delaying actions that would otherwise need to wait until the next board meeting.
Mr. Murphy said the proposal is an attempt to set a consistent local practice — not a state or federal requirement — and that the administration has worked with union leadership to align expectations. The board designated the bylaw update a first reading and then voted to replace the earlier motion; final bylaw language will appear on a future agenda for formal adoption.
