draft CAPE ELIZABETH EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATORS' ASSOCIATION (2026-2029)

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT

between the

CAPE ELIZABETH SCHOOL BOARD

and the

CAPE ELIZABETH EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATORS' ASSOCIATION

Cape Elizabeth, Maine

July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029

PREAMBLE

This Agreement has been entered into by and between the Cape Elizabeth Administrators’ Association (hereinafter called the "Association") and the Cape Elizabeth School Board.

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the School Board and Association both recognize that providing a quality education for the children of the Cape Elizabeth Public Schools is a mutual aim, and

WHEREAS, it is the vested right and responsibility of the School Board to formulate educational policies and programs and that the members of the administrative staff are in many instances particularly qualified as consultants with respect to educational policies and programs designed to improve educational standards, and

WHEREAS, the parties have reached certain understandings which they desire to confirm in this Agreement:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the following mutual covenants, it is hereby agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I - RECOGNITION

The School Board hereby recognizes the Association for the purposes of collective bargaining for a unit consisting of Administrators as defined herein and employed by the Cape Elizabeth School Board pursuant to Title 26 M.R.S.A. § 962.

This contract constitutes a binding agreement between the Association and the Cape Elizabeth School Board.

ARTICLE II - DEFINITIONS

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below unless specifically otherwise provided:

"Administrator" - Principal, Assistant Principal, Athletic Director, and Dean of Students.

"Agreement" - the collective bargaining agreement between the Cape Elizabeth School Board and the Cape Elizabeth Educational Administrators’ Association for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.

"Assistant Principal" - Assistant Principal of an elementary school, middle school or high school.

"Association" - the Cape Elizabeth Educational Administrators’ Association.

"Board" - the School Board of the Town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

"Principal" - Principal of an elementary school, middle school or senior high school.

"School" - any school administered by the Board.

"Retirement" - voluntary termination of employment absent disciplinary action, concurrent with payment of a retirement allowance granted under the Maine Public Employees Retirement System.

"Immediate Family" - father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, son, or daughter.

"Week" - a week is 1-5 days based on the school calendar of the week. In the summer, a week is five days unless a holiday falls within that week.

ARTICLE III - GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

DEFINITIONS

A "grievance" means a dispute as to the meaning or application of any specific provisions of this Agreement.

"Days" as used in this Article means working school days, except that after the last day of school until the first day of school, "days" means days on which the School Department is open for business.

INFORMAL PROCEDURE

Any Administrator asserting a Grievance (the "grievant") shall first discuss the grievance informally with his or her immediate supervisor in an effort to resolve the Grievance.

FORMAL PROCEDURE

LEVEL ONE - SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

If the grievant is not satisfied with the outcome of the informal discussion of the grievance with his or her immediate supervisor, the grievant, in order to maintain the grievance, must submit the Grievance in writing to the Superintendent. The grievance shall state the nature of the grievance, the contract provision(s) alleged to have been violated, and the relief sought. A Grievance will be deemed waived if it is not submitted in writing to the Superintendent at this Level One within ten (10) days after the grievant or the Association knew or should have known of the event giving rise to the Grievance.

Within ten (10) days after receipt of the written Grievance at this Level One, the Superintendent will meet at a mutually satisfactory time and place with the grievant for the purpose of adjusting or resolving such grievance. A decision shall be rendered in writing within five (5) days following the meeting.

LEVEL TWO - SCHOOL BOARD

If the grievant is not satisfied with the disposition of the Grievance at Level One, or if no decision has been rendered within the prescribed time, the grievant, in order to maintain the grievance, must, within five (5) days after receipt of the Superintendent's decision, or, if no decision has been rendered within the prescribed time, within five (5) days thereafter, submit the grievance in writing to the Board.

The Board will consider the grievance in executive session within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Grievance at a regularly scheduled Board meeting.

Within twenty (20) days after such a meeting, the Board will render its decision in writing with a copy to the Association President.

LEVEL THREE - ARBITRATION

If the Association is not satisfied with the disposition of the Grievance at Level Two, the Association, in order to maintain the grievance, must, within five (5) days after receipt of the Board's decision at Level Two, or, if no decision has been rendered within the prescribed time, within five (5) days thereafter, submit the Grievance to arbitration by so notifying the Board in writing.

Within ten (10) days after receipt of such request, a representative of the Board and the Association President shall attempt to select a mutually agreeable arbitrator. If the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator within ten (10) days, the Association may within five (5) days after that ten (10) day period, request of the American Arbitration Association that an arbitrator be selected pursuant to the procedures of the American Arbitration Association.

The arbitrator shall have no power to add to, subtract from, or modify the provisions of this Agreement. The arbitrator shall be without power to make any decision which is contrary to law, which requires the commission of an act prohibited by law, or which is violative of the terms of this Agreement. The award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on both parties, in matters related to the meaning or application of this Agreement. The arbitrator shall be without power or authority to make any decision that is in violation of the terms of this Agreement. The arbitrator's decision will be binding subject to judicial review as provided by law.

The costs for the services of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by the Board and the Association.

REPRESENTATION

At any level of the Grievance procedure, a grievant may be represented by his or her authorized Association representative.