T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Ruthie Martin, left, organizer with the Union Local Jets Booster Club, reported a successful golf scramble fundraiser in June.

MORRISTOWN — The teachers of Union Local are likely to start the school year Aug. 29 with a new contract that may be voted on next week.

Thursday evening, Union Local School Board Member Terry Puperi said he had met with representatives of the teacher’s union Wednesday for a day-long negotiation. He said conflicts of interest were resolved and school board may hold a special meeting next week for the purpose of voting on the contract, if the teachers approve of the contract during their meeting early in the week.

“There was back-and-forth. We had good conversations,” Superintendent Ben Porter said.

“It was a good negotiating session,” Sheri McElroy, a member of the teacher’s negotiating committee, said. “You’re never going to see 100 percent eye-to-eye on everything, but in the end we all are able to give a little bit for the betterment of the district and the kids.”

Puperi said both sides held the students and their education as the highest priority.

“There was no animosity whatsoever,” board member Ed Stenger said.

At the time of the meeting, they were unable to release details about the proposed contract or how long it would be.

McElroy added that the teachers were eager to meet Zac Shutler, hired to join Joel Davia as principals of the high school/middle school students.

Porter said he would soon be in the process of ironing out the details of Shutler’s and Davia’s respective duties with the principals.

Also, Porter reported receiving a report from the Ohio Department Education using 2017 and 2018 data, informing the district that the majority of special needs education requirements have been met, with some exceptions in reading and math. Porter added this was unchanged from prior years. He said about 17 percent of the district’s students have a form of disability.

“We have an excellent special education department within our school district. Our teachers and staff work extremely hard to support our student. Math is an area that’s something that’s not met, so that’s something we need to work to improve,” Porter said afterward.

A full school board of Puperi, Koel Davia, Dan Lucas, Shaun Roe, and Stenger heard the report.

Ruthie Martin, organizer with the Union Local Jets Booster Club said the annual golf scramble June 29 at Belmont Hills Country Club was a success.

“Every year we get more,” she said.

“I would like to thank those who participated. My goal was $20,000. We did not quite meet it, so I am still extending those who did not jump right onboard right away to jump onboard now. But we’re real close,” she said. “I want to thank the administration. We had 98 percent of the administration participate from all the staff.”

She added that the staff made bags, donated money, and otherwise contributed.

“My goal is to get participation from everyone, because our goal is to give back to everyone,” she said, adding that this year the boosters plan to provide gas cards and food cards for the Jets Resource Center, helping families in need.

“We are going to help the kids at Christmas again, and we are going to get a (digital) sign out front,” Martin said.

She thanked participants and corporate sponsors.

“Everyone that has participated in it has made that possible, to bring the community into our group to see that we give back to all the needs,” Martin said.

“I want to give Ruthie a pat on the back,” Porter said. “They put a lot of time, effort and money into the scramble.”

The board also heard from Joshua Peck of Morristown, father of a varsity football player, who brought up his concern that the varsity team might be moved out of the locker room and into the weight room. He also said the team was in need of 30 helmets.

Porter said that and other options were discussed as a possibility to give opposing teams a locker room.

“That was a solution that was proposed, however I don’t believe that’s a solution that’s going to be utilized,” Porter said. In terms of the helmet shortage, Porter said the district was looking into available funds. “The kids will have helmets.”

Lucas added that the athletic fund has only $1,600.

Porter added that the August meeting will see the presentation of the school facilities plan, listing facility and educational priorities. Staff and community members have contributed to the plan for months.

In other matters, Roe, who was named to a vacant seat last meeting, will serve on the finance, audit, athletic and labor relations committees.

“We’re excited. It sounds like we’ve got some plans in the works,” Roe said.