Plymouth-Canton, Teachers Agree on Contract

The Plymouth-Canton Board of Education voted Tuesday to accept contract agreements with its teachers, as well as three school-employee unions.

According to district spokesman Frank Ruggirello Jr., the agreement will save the district more than $5.7 million.

The district also approved agreements with licensed technicians, custodial maintenance and paraprofessionals.

The board unanimously accepted each agreement except the custodial maintenance contract, which trustee Nancy Eggenberger wanted to table in hopes of preserving the jobs of 21 employees in June.

"I’d like to just table it if we could to get more information from the administration," said Eggenberger. "I’m uncomfortable voting on it."

Trustee Steven Sneideman supported Eggenberger's motion to table, which failed with a 2-4 vote. He then supported the agreement, which passed 5-1. Eggenberger cast the dissenting vote.

The board met at the .

Among the changes are a 20 percent contribution by employees to health care premiums, which took effect Sept. 1.

District to earn $1.8 million by abiding by best practices

The Board of Education unanimously accepted a resolution citing the district's best practices as part of an incentive program through the State School Aid Act that will bring $1.8 million into the district.

Under the resolution, according to interim superintendent Jeremy Hughes, the board certified the district meets the following conditions:

• District employees are contributing at least 10 percent of health care costs
• District is the policyholder for medical benefit plans
• District will develop a service consolidation plan
• District has obtained a competitive bid on non-instructional services
• District will provide a link on its home page to the website for the MI School Data Portal

According to Hughes, the district had to meet just four of the five best practices, but met all five.

District announces new hires

The Board of Trustees announced the hirings several administrative positions.

• Christopher Marek was hired as assistant principal for .
• Phillip Freeman, who recently served as principal at , was hired as assistant superintendent for facilities and operations for the district.
• Lisa Del Vecchio was hired as assistant principal of .
• Jeanne Farina was hired as assistant superintendent for instructional services for the district. 

The district also announced the hirings of eight teachers and a school psychologist.