8/3/13 - As the Howell School Board prepares for a special meeting Monday night, the panelâs president says closed-session talks last week about the district's teachers' union contract went well. Mondayâs meeting will be the second special session in as many weeks. The board went into a closed session last Tuesday to discuss the contentious issue of collective bargaining strategy for the teachers' union contract. Afterward, Board President Mike Witt told WHMI he was optimistic of progress. In March, the board rejected a new teacherâs contract by a 3-2 vote, with Trustees Mike Moloney and Deborah McCormick and Treasurer Doug Moore voting against the measure despite recommendations from Superintendent Ron Wilson and the districtâs lead negotiator. Mike Witt and his wife Kim, who serves as the boardâs secretary were excluded from voting by a new conflict of interest law because Kim's sister is a teacher in the district. Moloney has proposed allowing teacherâs the option of switching to Blue Cross of Michigan for their health coverage. But that has not gained traction with the boardâs majority. Mondayâs meeting, which includes the closed session to discuss bargaining, begins at 6pm. (JK)
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