8/6/13 - No action was taken, but Howell School Board President Mike Witt says there was positive momentum during a closed session last night regarding teacher contract negotiations. The board has not given administrators a clear direction for negotiations with the teachers' union since it rejected a contract in March. Negotiations were suspended earlier this summer, with a majority of the board agreeing that without direction the district could not negotiate in good faith. However, at its last meeting, the board held a closed session to discuss how to negotiate the contract. That closed session followed a special presentation on board governance and cooperation, and board members agreed that progress was made on deciding on a direction for negotiations. That conversation was continued during a closed session last night. No consensus was reached and the resulting action was tabled, but Board President Mike Witt says they once against produced positive movement on the topic. He says another closed session discussion will take place at the board's regular meeting next week, but it is unlikely a new direction will be agreed upon and a new contract for teachers signed before classes begin later this month. (TD)
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