Liberty Governing Board approves teacher and related-services contract offers; holds first read on liquidated-damages policy

The Liberty Governing Board voted unanimously March 10 at the Jerry Rovrey District Facility to approve revised teacher contract language for the 2025–26 school year and to authorize issuance assurances for principal/teacher and related-services contracts, while holding a first read of a draft liquidated-damages policy.

Board President Chris Kenyon, Vice President Kelly Zimmerman, Board member Sarah Schmidt and Board member Brian Cirincione all voted “aye” on the three motions; each motion passed 4–0. The board’s approvals authorize contract offers but — as a district staff member noted during the meeting — state statute prevents issuing teacher contracts until after March 15, so offers will be finalized after that date.

Why it matters: The actions set the terms and allow the district to proceed with contract offers for classroom teachers, principals and outside related-services providers (such as speech-language pathologists) while the board continues work on formal policy language for liquidated damages and internal procedures. Board discussion highlighted budget constraints, the high cost of contracted related services, and concerns about how waivers and discretionary decisions would be handled if an employee leaves mid-contract.

Revised contract language and the motion Dr. Mahorn, presenting the revisions, told the board that the liquidated-damages language had been updated across the differing contract templates and that the district had worked with legal counsel on the changes. “I worked with Clyde Dangerfield, our legal, to update as requested for tonight’s meeting,” Dr. Mahorn said.

Board members agreed to add phrasing tying any waiver authority to a governing-board policy. The final motion approved by the board read, as amended, to approve teacher contract language for school year 2025–26 “pursuant to governing board policy.” The board recorded a unanimous 4–0 vote in favor.

Issuance assurances and related-services contracts The board also approved a separate motion to authorize issuance of principal and teacher contracts for 2025–26 and a motion to approve issuance of related-services contracts for 2025–26. In presenting the related-services item, Dr. Mahorn noted that some services are legally required and expensive to contract. She gave an example from the current year in which a contracted speech-language pathologist (SLP) was paid $150,000 — about $67,000 more than the district’s average teacher salary — to illustrate the budgetary pressures of contracting for specialized services.

Board members said they supported approving the offers so the district could secure necessary staff and contractors despite concerns about the district’s overall budget and the cost differences between contracted specialists and district employees.

Policy first read and board concerns The board spent significant time on a first read of a draft policy establishing liquidated-damages parameters for teacher contracts. Board discussion covered several points the board asked staff to address before a second reading: - Tie waiver authority and procedures to a clear governing-board policy so employees know where to direct waiver requests; one board member asked that instructions for how a teacher requests a waiver be added. - Clarify proration rules (the draft reflects a prorated approach by work day) and the agreed reduced flat amount (the board previously negotiated a reduction from an earlier figure to a lower amount noted in the draft). - Define who determines “circumstances beyond the control of the employee” and whether decision-making should involve cabinet-level review or a multi-person committee rather than a single administrator. Dr. Mahorn said the district’s plan is to bring such situations to cabinet for review. - Address equity concerns raised by board members about administrators: one board member said administrators have been permitted to leave mid-contract without the same liquidated-damages application and urged consistency across employee groups.

Board member Sarah Schmidt reiterated her substantive objection to liquidated damages as a policy tool, saying, “I would like to make the point that I’m not in favor of liquidated damages overall.” Nonetheless, she supported the process that produced the current draft and the board’s decision to move forward with contract offers while continuing policy work.

What the votes covered Votes at a glance: - Approve revised teacher contract language for school year 2025–26 (as amended to read “pursuant to governing board policy”): passed 4–0 (Kenyon, Schmidt, Cirincione, Zimmerman). Motion and second recorded. - Approve issuance of principal and teacher contracts for school year 2025–26: passed 4–0 (Kenyon, Schmidt, Cirincione, Zimmerman). Motion and second recorded. District staff noted statutory restriction: contracts cannot be issued until after March 15. - Approve issuance of related-services contracts for school year 2025–26: passed 4–0 (Kenyon, Schmidt, Cirincione, Zimmerman). Motion and second recorded. Dr. Mahorn cited a contracted SLP payment of $150,000 as an example of contracting cost pressures.

Next steps The liquidated-damages language will return for additional drafting and a second read; board members asked staff to clarify waiver procedures, decision-making authority (cabinet or committee review), and the specific proration formula. The district will proceed with contract offers after March 15 per statute and said it will continue to limit offers until it can present a balanced budget to the governing board.

Meeting context The items on teacher and related-services contracts and the policy first read were the substantive business at the special meeting called March 10. Three motions were approved unanimously; the policy discussion was a first read only and did not result in formal policy adoption.