Montville ― The Town Council was expected to review the new teachers’ contract Monday night but instead did not place the item on its meeting agenda.

The council has until Dec. 20 to act on the contract, which has been ratified by the local teachers’ union and school board. If the council does nothing, it will effectively be approved, and go into effect in September 2024, said Tim May, council chairman.

The next scheduled council meeting is Jan. 8.

Councilors did have a short discussion prompted by a report from the council’s Board of Education liaison Joe Jaskiewicz.

“We’ve all been given the Board of Ed teachers’ contract,” May said. “To date, three people have met with the superintendent to discuss it. I encourage everyone to meet with her if you have any questions.”

“I see no reason to act on it,” he said.

The three-year contract keeps the teacher’s salaries “within the range of what they should be,” May said Tuesday.

“Nobody seemed to want to talk about it, so it’s in good shape,” he said. “I think it’s a good contract. I think it’s meeting the needs of what they need to do.”

Under the current contract, an entry-level teacher with a bachelor’s degree makes $49,898 a year. Under the new contract, that same teacher would make $53,767.

A teacher with a master’s degree and seven years of experience currently makes $69,357. Under the new contract, that same teacher would make $73,616.

The new contract would raise the tax rate by 0.52 mills the first year, 0.42 the second year and 0.44 mills the third year. That means for homes assessed at the median value of $210,000, owners would pay $109.20 more in the first year, $88.20 in the second and $92.40 in the third.

d.drainville@theday.com