Rockland School Committee Approves High School Curriculum Changes, Teachers' Contract
New geography elective added, MCAS graduation requirement updated, and three-year contract with 2.5% annual raises ratified
ROCKLAND - January 27 - The Rockland School Committee has approved significant changes to the high school curriculum and ratified a new teachers' contract during its Jan. 27 meeting.
High School Principal Cheryl Schipper presented three major modifications to the program of studies. The committee agreed to remove the American Conspiracies course, which hasn't run in five years, and expand the law elective to include government components.
A new Global Perspectives in Geography elective will be added, focusing on multicultural awareness and the interplay between human and physical geography.
"We're looking to add a new elective called global perspectives in geography," Schipper said. "Focusing on multicultural awareness and the interplay between human and physical geography."
The committee also approved changes to graduation requirements following the November ballot question that altered MCAS testing mandates. Students will now be required to take the MCAS exam but not necessarily pass it to graduate.
"The ballot question in November changed the graduation requirement to not include passing the MCAS," Schipper explained. "So we're looking to change that to take the MCAS."
Students will still have the opportunity to retake the exam if desired, particularly for scholarship eligibility. This change eliminates the need for educational proficiency plans previously required for students who didn't pass.
The committee also streamlined language regarding schedule changes, emphasizing that alterations will only be made for scheduling conflicts or staffing issues.
In a separate agenda item, the committee ratified a new three-year contract with the teachers' union, Unit A. Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron presented the agreement, which includes a 2.5% annual salary increase and the addition of one new step per year for three years.
The contract introduces changes to parental bonding time policies. Teachers can now access sick time for 12 weeks following a qualifying event such as birth, adoption, or fostering. The first 10 work days within this period will not be charged against sick time.
"The first 10 work days within the first 12 weeks of the qualifying event, no sick time will be charged," Dr. Cron stated.
Additionally, the agreement requires all new behaviorists to be National Board BCBA certified to be members of Unit A.
Dr. Cron praised the negotiation process and the district's teachers, saying, "Our teachers are arguably second to the students, the most important people we have in our buildings. They are the heart and soul. They make the connections with the students."
He thanked Union President Sharon McGonnigal and Chief Negotiator Fred Damon for their work on behalf of the members.
The committee members expressed satisfaction with the smooth negotiation process and the resulting agreement. Committee Chair Jill Maroney noted, "It's not often that the union leaders and ourselves all get to sit in one room and have a full conversation and sort of go back and forth in a mature and productive manner."
In other business, the committee approved several fundraisers, including chocolate bar sales for the eighth-grade Philadelphia trip, a cookie dough pie fundraiser for the classes of 2027 and 2028, and a volleyball tournament for the class of 2025.
The committee also announced upcoming events, including a polar plunge fundraiser for Special Olympics on Feb. 6 and the Phelps Elementary School Winter Arts Night on Jan. 28.
The meeting concluded with praise for the recent Rogers Middle School drama performance, highlighting the students' poise and the strong community support evident at the event.