Royal schools reach agreement on contracts

Contract expected to be ratified Oct. 24

ROYAL — More than a month after the start of a new school year, the Royal School District reached a negotiation agreement on its teacher contracts Wednesday.

"It's a good contract," said Jerry Moberg with Moberg and Associates. "I think both sides are pleased with the results."

Moberg was hired by the RSD to assist in the negotiation process.

The agreement was reached after meetings in September and three separate meetings this week were held. Moberg could not comment on the specifics of the agreement.

When the school year began, teachers in the RSD were operating under last year's contracts meaning no agreement had been reached on a salary or benefits that would be provided to them.

Teachers were already guaranteed a job for the school year as they each sign individual contracts each spring.

RSD Superintendent David James expects the agreement to be ratified by both the school board and the Royal Education Association by the Oct. 24 board meeting.

"I think both parties did an excellent job," James said.

Open houses that had been postponed due to the pending negotiations are expected to be rescheduled, James added.

A phone call to an REA representative was not returned before press time.

Other news from the Sept. 26 board meeting:

? The school district has sold the old Red Rock Elementary building and property to the Guadarrama Brothers. The district had a new elementary school building constructed back in 1991.

? A levy committee will be meeting to set an amount for the school levy scheduled to run in February.

? The board will be scheduling a visit with Big Bend Community College to bring college courses to the high school.

? Two new librarians have been hired this month.

? The Public School Employees contract has been ratified.