By Crystal Hayduk
The Chelsea School District (CSD) Board of Education (BOE) unanimously voted to ratify the tentative agreement between the Chelsea Education Association (CEA) and CSD, giving teachers a contract from 2026-2029.
Superintendent Mike Kapolka said the tentative agreement includes a three-year calendar, updates to Schedule B (extracurricular) roles, and a “tweak” to the funeral leave language.
Common themes addressed during talks between CSD and CEA included working conditions, honoring longevity, an increase in base compensation, and extra duty compensation.
Kapolka thanked the negotiating teams for their efforts. The CSD team included Kapolka, Marcus Kaemming, Nicole Lechner, Casey Wescott, and Amanda Clor. The CEA team included Mike Brown (CEA president), Judy Hermosillo, Eric Robinson, John Zainea, and Alison Roberts.
Kapolka said that bargaining sessions tend to go for a long time, but thanks to a “collaborative spirit” and positive relationship with the CEA, the agreement was reached before the end of the school year.
Glenn Fox, the board’s vice president, said, “I think it’s phenomenal that they were able to come together [to reach] a three-year TA at this time when districts all around us are suffering from breakdowns of trust and transparency. I think it’s a real testament to the relationship that’s been built between staff and admin.”
In consent action, the board approved the purchase of 425 iPads, cases, and headphone jack adaptors for students in third and eighth grades at a total cost of $194,628.75. The 2019 bond will cover $184,003.75, while $10,625.00 for Mobile Device Management will be paid through the technology department budget. The purchase is part of the device refresh cycle.
The board also approved a three-year extension of the contract with Gabridge & Co. for financial audit services. The cost for all three years will total $105,000.
A videorecording of the school board meeting is available to view here through June.
In other board news:
Adam Schilt and Kaitlyn Gasparovich, principal and assistant principal of Beach Middle School (BMS), introduced eighth grader Melanie Smashey, the middle school’s April Student of the Month.
The second annual “Rock Your Socks” Classic, a Unified basketball game between Chelsea and Dexter middle school students, was held on March 27 at CHS. In his written report to the BOE, Schilt said 500+ BMS students and 200+ CHS students attended the game. “Although Dexter came out on top by two points in a tightly contested game, the real winners were our athletes, their partners, and everyone in attendance,” he wrote.
Upcoming dates:
- April 20: There will be a school board work session at 6:30 p.m. on April 20 in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center (WSEC).
- May 4: The next regular school board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on May 4 in the board room at the WSEC.
