Big issues to be debated at session

The annual meeting of the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District is apt to be a long session. Among the 11 articles to be discussed are expanding the cooperative district to include the elementary schools in the two towns; a $5.9 million operating budget; and a new collective bargaining agreement with the teachers at a cost of $62,263.

The meeting will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at the high school.

Combining the three school districts has been under discussion for the past two years, prompted in part by Mascenic Regional leaving School Administrative Unit 63, and Mason leaving Mascenic but not the SAU. Combining the administrative functions would reduce SAU costs and improve cooperation among the schools, according to school officials.

The budget is about a 1.1 percent increase not counting the new contracts with teaching and support staffs. Added cost of the support staff contract is $6,097. Both contracts are for one year while consolidation is considered. If the districts unite, there will be one master contract.