LIVERMORE FALLS — Two new bargaining units were approved for formation by the RSU 73 board Thursday night.
Superintendent Robert Wall said the board voluntarily recognized a new unit known as the Managers and Directors Association. The bargaining unit will represent the adult education director, business manager, technical director, and transportation and maintenance director.
The request was made by business manager Stacie Field.
A second new unit will represent the Support Staff Association. It consists of the accounts payable clerk, the adult education support coordinator, the food service director, the payroll clerk, the special education administrative assistant and two repair technicians.
Accounts payable clerk Brenda Merrill made the request.
Both groups had formerly been parts of the district personnel policy and not part of a union.
The board votes came following a 45-minute closed session.
Wall said the next step is for the board to begin negotiations with each new bargaining unit. The components and length of the contracts will be worked out during negotiations.
With the approval of the new bargaining units, all but a handful of district employees are part of a union.
In other matters, board member Tammy Frost informed the rest of the board about a Maine.gov website that provides a variety of information about schools throughout the state.
She said the site showed that RSU 73’s per-pupil costs are slightly below the state average. She said the site also shows the number of students in each district and annual budgets.
The board will meet in two closed sessions, Monday, April 28, and Thursday, May 1, to interview the two finalists for the position of superintendent. The successful candidate will fill the position beginning July 1. Wall is retiring.
The next regular meeting is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, at the district Central Office on Cedar Street.
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