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McGuffey board approves amended MOU letting support staff use two‑hour delays without pay penalty
Summary
After extended debate about fairness and bargaining implications, the McGuffey School District board approved an amended memorandum of understanding that allows support staff to either work a full day or utilize a two‑hour weather delay without loss of pay for those hours.
The McGuffey School District board on Monday approved an amended memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the McGuffey Educational Support Personnel Association that clarifies procedures for two‑hour weather delays and lets support staff either attend at the regular start time and work a full day, or use the two‑hour delay without penalty.
Supporters said the amendment clarifies existing practice and gives staff flexibility. "They can either attend work at the regular start time and work the full 8 hour workday or utilize the 2 hour delay without penalty," the board president summarized while reading the amended language. Mr. Venata moved to amend the MOU to remove language that would have docked pay; the amendment passed and the amended MOU subsequently carried on a voice vote.
Administrators and trustees spent the bulk of the meeting debating the effects of the change on different employee groups and on future collective bargaining. Dr. Oberg explained the MOU reflected language being requested by the support staff group and noted that certain operational staff who perform essential functions (for example, custodial or maintenance personnel) could not be excused in the same way because of coverage needs. "Contractually, they're being held to that language," Dr. Oberg said in explaining why the district and the bargaining unit sought clarity.
Opponents raised budgetary and bargaining concerns. One trustee asked whether the district risked paying staff who were not physically present and calculated that, for about 40 employees at $15 an hour, two hours per event could be a sizable daily cost. Board members also questioned whether agreeing to the MOU now would preempt bargaining positions in the next contract cycle.
A motion to table the MOU failed after a roll‑call exchange; the board then approved the amended MOU. The meeting transcript does not record a final roll‑call tally for the MOU vote, only that the motion "carried" after the voice vote.
What happens next: the MOU will apply for the winter delay period described in the meeting packet; trustees noted that any wider or permanent change to working hours remains a subject for the collective‑bargaining process in the next contract cycle.
Context: The discussion covered distinctions among employee groups and the board emphasized managers cannot unilaterally change contract terms without an MOU when contract language specifies working hours.
