School Committee ratifies townwide OPEB memorandum of agreement

The Easton School Committee voted May 8 to ratify a memorandum of agreement (MOU) negotiated by the town and multiple municipal unions to help mitigate the town's Other Post‑Employment Benefits (OPEB) liability.

Superintendent Dr. Cabral summarized the MOU, which the transcript says was provided by the town administrator. Dr. Cabral said OPEB refers to retiree health care and that the town is working toward fuller funding of a liability she described as "over a hundred million dollar liability at this point." Under terms discussed at the meeting, employees would contribute a modest payroll deduction (described in the packet as $5 per week for most employees, with a reduced amount for employees earning under $40,000), and the town has been allocating roughly $25,000 a year toward OPEB to date.

Committee members asked whether the retiree contribution levels were fixed for life; staff responded that contribution and benefit splits could be changed in future agreements and that some protections may be time‑limited as part of the agreement. "Part of the effort to reduce the cost to the town is to change that from 70 to 30," Dr. Cabral said, referring to employer/employee share discussions; staff said the town and unions have agreed to participate in mitigation through payroll deductions.

A motion to approve the MOU listing multiple union units was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. Members said the document had already been negotiated with unions and approved by town council and the town administrator.

The committee will sign the agreement as the school department party to the townwide MOU. No roll‑call vote was recorded in the public transcript.