Norton City teachers urge board to resume stalled contract talks; board moves into executive session

Teachers, union leaders and community members pressed the Norton City Schools Board of Education on Monday to resume contract negotiations and to offer terms that will retain staff, and the board later moved into executive session to discuss personnel and bargaining.

Jordan Knotts, a special educator at Norton Elementary, told the board the district and the Norton Classroom Teachers Association must return to the table “prepared to finalize a fair contract for Norton teachers.” Knotts urged the board to recognize teachers’ value, improve working conditions and focus on retention as part of investing in student success.

Eric Reimer, who identified himself as a community member and a teacher, said repeated delays and canceled meetings with the board’s negotiation team have been “disrespectful for teachers” and described recent schedule changes that reduced middle‑school English and math from 90 minutes to 44 minutes a day.

Amber Wheatley, a sixth‑grade math teacher and president of the Norton Classroom Teachers Association, said the teachers’ contract has been expired for 71 days and that membership votes determine whether tentative agreements are accepted. “The raises offered to us were offset by changes made to insurance costs,” Wheatley said, arguing members view proposed changes as effectively canceling salary increases and urging the board to schedule bargaining more promptly and during times teachers can attend.

Several other speakers backed the teachers. Rod Rao, a 29‑year teacher, said he voted down a tentative agreement because contract language would increase his costs, and Gary Kristoff, a retired taxpayer and former union president, said he feared board plans for capital projects or a levy—if not shared with negotiators—could be seen as bad faith bargaining.

During public comment speakers referenced a union unfair‑labor‑practice filing and delays in responses from the board or its legal counsel. Speakers also cited local data and experience about past raises and cost of living as reasons the district must address teacher compensation.

The board handled extensive routine business alongside the public comments. By roll call votes the board approved the corrected meeting agenda, minutes, treasurer’s recommendations, multiple personnel and substitute approvals, supplemental stipends and several athletic service appointments. Most motions carried unanimously; one volunteer appointment passed 4–0 with one abstention.

Late in the meeting the board voted 5–0 to enter an executive session “to consider the appointment, employment, or compensation of a public employee” and to prepare for bargaining sessions with employees regarding compensation or other terms of employment.

What’s next: the board took public comment under advisement and directed comments to staff as appropriate; it did not take public votes on contract terms during the meeting. The executive session indicates board members planned to discuss negotiations and personnel behind closed doors, as allowed by state law.

Votes at a glance: agenda approval (motion carried 5–0); approval of minutes (5–0); treasurer’s recommendations (5–0); superintendent personnel recommendations and certified/classified hires (multiple 5–0 votes); supplemental stipends and stipends items (5–0); athletic volunteer Christopher Inks appointment (motion carried 4–0, 1 abstention); motion to enter executive session (5–0).