Berlin-Boylston committee discusses BBEA bargaining, moves to reopen for superintendent contract vote

The Berlin-Boylston Regional School Committee met in executive session on June 10, 2025, to discuss collective bargaining with the BBEA and to negotiate terms for the district's interim superintendent contract. The committee voted 6-0 to adjourn the executive session and reopen in open session for a separate vote on the superintendent's contract.

Committee members received an update on negotiations with the BBEA. The minutes state that agreed-upon items and outstanding issues were reviewed and that committee members provided input; the minutes do not list specific contract terms or dollar amounts. The update included discussion of compensation-related items and open bargaining points.

Separately, the committee addressed contract negotiations relating to the Interim Superintendent. While portions of the negotiation were conducted without the superintendent present, the minutes record that Superintendent Albert Ganem later addressed the committee and that discussion included salary considerations, travel and additional payments, and the planned overlap between an interim and a future permanent superintendent at the end of fiscal year 2026 as it relates to transition planning and the year-end evaluation. The minutes do not specify salary figures, travel rates, or the length or financial terms of any overlap.

Procedural action: District Clerk Lori-Anne Hart moved to adjourn the executive session and reopen in open session to hold a vote to approve the Interim Superintendent's contract; Lisa Mair seconded. The minutes record a roll-call vote with Vice Chair Meagan Grill, Elisabeth Mancini, Jessica Deglialberti, Lori-Anne Hart, Lisa Mair and Chair Michael Totman all voting "Aye." The motion passed 6-0. According to the minutes, the formal vote to approve the superintendent's contract was to occur after the body reconvened in open session.

No final contract terms or vote on the superintendent's contract are recorded in these executive session minutes. The minutes identify the statutory authority for the executive session as Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21(a), Purpose (3) for collective bargaining and Purpose (2) for strategy and contract negotiations with nonunion personnel.

The committee's next recorded procedural step was the planned reconvening in open session for the contract vote; the minutes do not include the outcome of that separate vote or a scheduled time for reconvening in open session.