Raton Board approves NEA collective bargaining agreement with schedule and training changes

The Raton Board of Education on June 18 unanimously approved a revised collective bargaining agreement with the National Education Association that updates staff schedules, training deadlines and in-service planning.

Superintendent Kristie Medina reviewed the changes before the vote, saying the agreement assigns Vector trainings by July 10 to be completed on employees' own time, adds five minutes to special classes at Longfellow, requires weekly grade-level meetings during teachers' prep time, and directs the administration to schedule all staff in-service days through December before staff return. Medina said the remainder of the year's in-service days will be planned at least one month in advance.

Under the agreement, the official staff work-day hours will vary by site: Longfellow (7:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.), RIS (7:05 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.), and the high school (7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Custodians will work Monday through Thursday with four additional hours on Friday; educational assistants will work an extra four hours one Friday per month. The agreement also restricts compensatory time unless approved by the administration.

Member Ted Kamp moved to approve the contract; the motion was seconded by Dustin Walton and passed 5-0. Medina said the agreement is intended to support implementation of the district's new curriculum and provide predictable scheduling for staff as the schools transition into the coming academic year.

The board's action follows earlier discussion in the meeting about instructional changes and a planned HQIM grant that district leaders said will support math curriculum implementation.