By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN
NEWPORT — By a slim margin of 17 voters, a record turnout of 1,245 Newport voters gave teachers in the Newport School District what they wanted, a pay raise and a three-year contract.
Election officials believe the 30-percent turnout was the largest ever for an annual school district voting session. The checklist numbers approximately 4,200 with 38 new voters registering at the polls during voting hours on Tuesday.
The new teacher contract is for three years. “This ensures that the teachers will receive the correct salaries assigned to their years of experience,” said a happy Superintendent of Schools Cindy Gallagher.
The estimated increase for 2019-20 for staff increases will be $347,127. The amount in 2020-21 is pegged at $301,693 and for 2021-22, $139,194.
The district’s proposed operating budget of $18,963,855 passed by a vote of 997 to 233. “This ensures that the paraprofessionals and administrative assistants in the Newport support staff collective bargaining unit receive a negotiated raise for the 2019-20 academic year,” Gallagher said.
Had that article been defeated, the default budget would have kicked in at a total cost of $19,163,662.
In the school board race, Linda Wadensten the current board chairman was re-elected along with newcomer Russell Medbery. Both were three-year terms. Medbery will replace Tim Renner who did not seek re-election. Wadensten received 751 votes and Medbery had 721.
Running unopposed, William Howard Dunn was re-elected moderator and Robert Scott school district clerk and treasurer, all one-year terms.
Only two other articles won voter approval. One was for $78,000 to repair the fire alarm panel in the Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center and the second was a non-monetary article that was approved 901-314 to require that the annual budget and all special warrant articles having a tax impact will contain a notation stating the estimated tax impact of the article. The tax impact for the fire alarm panel was 18 cents.
“I’m very pleased that the community recognized the need to support our staff and disappointed they did not understand our other needs. We have more work to do,” said Virginia Irwin, the Newport School Board vice chair.
Voters turned down a request for $45,000 for the purpose of a feasibility study and design of the programmatic renovation or expansion of the Sugar River Valley Technical Center. The vote was 740-485.
The Newport School Board and Budget Advisory Budget Committee both recommended the article with a tax impact of 10 cents.
“We all know that the CTE Center is essential to many Newport students’ career preparation. It is unfortunate that there were so many competing needs this year. I’m hopeful we will try again next year,” Gallagher said.
“I’m relieved the Newport Teachers’ Association warrant passed. It’s the steps needed to build trust and recognition of our children’s educators. I’m eager to keep building faith in the district,” Wadensten said.
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