School committee appoints Anarie Luster as director of student services; tentative labor agreements expected soon

The Rockport School Committee on Dec. 18 accepted the superintendent’s recommendation to appoint Anarie Luster as Director of Student Services, pending successful contract negotiations with the superintendent. Committee members noted Luster’s work since taking the interim role, cited advocacy letters provided in the meeting packet, and congratulated her; the motion to appoint was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Earlier in the meeting committee members reviewed negotiations with RESSA (the teachers’ union referenced in the packet). Presenters reported tentative agreements in all areas except for an appendix on evaluation documents and said they expect a final TA shortly. The timeline discussed anticipates that the union will ratify the TA and the committee will then consider a ratification vote, with committee members indicating readiness to vote in early January once ratification by the union is complete.

The committee also voted to enter executive session to discuss collective-bargaining strategy where an open meeting might have a detrimental effect on bargaining position; a roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript with committee members recorded as voting in the affirmative. The committee planned not to reconvene in open session after the executive session.

Next steps: contract negotiations for Luster will continue with the superintendent; the committee will consider ratifying labor agreements after union ratification and will follow the previously stated budget/town timeline.