Marquette Schools Contract Talks Progress

Just before students come back to the classroom, the Marquette Area Public Schools and its employee unions make progress in their contract talks.

Students at Marquette Senior High School picked up their books and schedules last week, and some were at the school today for extracurricular activities.

The MAPS Board of Education agreed to a pair of tentative new contracts last night.

Superintendent Debbie Veiht says one of the new tentative deals is with custodians, maintenance workers, food service staff and bus drivers.

The other new contract would be with clerical staff, teacher’s aides, teaching assistants and lunch supervisors.

Veiht says a new contract with the district’s principals is just about ready to go, needing only a signature.

She’s also meeting with the teachers’ union this Friday and she says she hopes the two sides can hammer out a tentative agreement at that time.

The school board also voted last night to create a list of operating procedures for itself.

With many newer members, the board thought having written rules in place would be worthwhile.

Veiht says it’s exciting to have a new school year just around the corner — the first day of school is next Tuesday.