Special Brighton Board of Education Meeting to be Held Tonight to Recall Teachers

The Brighton Board of Education is a holding a special meeting tonight to recall teachers that were previously laid off this past year.

It's the latest move by the district as it continues to negotiate with the Brighton Education Association, and other school personnel unions to settle on a new contract before the current ones expire Aug. 31.

School officials and teachers union leaders have both said this special meeting is related to the negotiations, although both sides have not made how it's related clear.

Maria Gistinger, the assistant superintendent of finance for the district, said the number of teachers to be recalled was still being finalized. Gistinger said that to bring the teachers back officially, the board has to vote on it.

After the , Brighton Education Association President Ellen Lafferty said she was surprised at the timing of the recall meeting, because she said class sizes had not been determined yet. Gistinger said the timing was due to the approaching start of the school year, set to begin on Sept. 6.

Lafferty also said at that time she was not optimistic about the way negotiations were going, and wouldn't speculate on what would happen if the sides couldn't reach a deal by the deadline.

After a round of negotiations on Wednesday though, Gistinger said she is becoming increasingly optimistic that the sides can reach a deal before Aug. 31. Lafferty would not comment further when questioned via email on Friday.

The agenda for the meeting, to be held in the board room at the at 7 p.m., is attached above.