By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN
NEWPORT — Pay raises for Newport teachers and members of the Newport Support Staff Association in the 2018-19 budget year were soundly defeated by voters Tuesday during the annual Newport School District voting session.
Despite the falling snow, 781 voters cast ballots compared to 431 a year ago during a driving snowstorm. Tuesday’s total represented a turnout of 19.2 percent of the 4,076 registered voters on the checklist.
This year, the pay increase for members of the Newport Teachers Association was budgeted at $140,382 while the support staff appropriation was up $92,311.
On a vote of 424-351 the increase to cover changes in salaries, benefits, health insurance and contract obligations at the current staffing level for teachers was defeated.
The support staff request was turned down, 444-328.
The 2018-19 budget totaling $18,050,000 passed, 612-162. Had that article been defeated, the projected default budget sought $18,076,388.
“I appreciate that so many people came out to vote in the storm,” said Cindy Gallagher, superintendent. “We will start the year with $18,050,000. Our town was generous in its support of the operating budget.
“However, I’m very disappointed that neither of the contracts for our staffs passed,” she said.
“These were good contracts that well negotiated. It is unfortunate that these two articles failed.”
Three school board members were re-elected without opposition.
Warrant articles authorizing the school district to call one special meeting at its option in the event either or both of the two pay increase articles were defeated also lacked support.
The request for a second vote on the defeated pay increase for teachers was turned down, 456-313. A second vote for the support staff increases was also defeated, 474-297.
Article 8 sought $233,000 for the programming, renovations and staff costs for the Autism Program, classroom renovations and staffing at Newport Middle High School was voted down, 468-290.
Voters backed Article 9, 490-279, that will allow the school district to utilize $125,000 from the Unanticipated Educational Services Expendable Trust fund for unanticipated educational services for students who are paced Out-of-District. No additional amount will be raised by taxes.
Also gaining approval was Article 10 authorizing the School District to spend $101,000 for the purpose of purchasing a van and a bus for transportation utilizing funds from the Transportation Capital Reserve Fund. No amount will be raised from taxation. The vote was 563-210,
The request for the Newport School District to enter into a 25-year power purchase agreement in conjunction with a town solar energy project was authorized 493-280. None of the solar units will be placed on the roof at Richards Elementary School, which was part of the original proposal.
A bid to retain year-end unassigned general funds in an amount not to exceed, in any fiscal year, 2.5 percent of the current fiscal year’s net assessment, went down to defeat, 472-297.
Also turned down was a request to add $50,000 to the Unanticipated Educational Services Expendable Trust Fund, 487-286 and another $50,000 to be added to the Transportation Capital Reserve fund, 435-340.
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