Weston School Committee ratifies food-services contract, hears omicron surge update

WESTON — January 10, 2022 — Weston ratifies food-services contract and weighs five-day return for student-athletes amid omicron surge. The School Committee voted 5-0 Monday to approve a three-year collective bargaining agreement providing 2 percent, 2 percent and 1.75 percent cost-of-living raises, adding Juneteenth as a paid holiday and moving the unit to biweekly pay. Director of District Medical Services Jamie Gaynor reported 138 cases the prior week — 4.2 percent of the district — up from 17, with 2,313 tests administered. Superintendent Dr. Midge Connolly said staff absence, not student case counts, is the real closure risk: "We are only a couple of teachers, two to three teachers every day away from needing to close a school." Four parents pressed the committee to align with surrounding Dual County League districts and let athletes return at day six with a negative test; Chair Anita Rahman promised an answer by week's end. The committee also approved a $3,698,816.01 warrant and six WEEFC grants totaling $72,126.67.