Nicole Bucka Can Vote On East Greenwich Teacher Union Contracts: Ethics Board

EAST GREENWICH, RI — East Greenwich School Committee member Nicole Bucka can vote on new teacher contracts, the state Ethics Commission ruled.

Bucka's husband is a teacher in East Greenwich Public Schools, so Buck asked for the commission's guidance, after she won a special election in October to fill the school board seat vacated by Lori McEwen.

With teacher contracts, the commission's ruling said Bucka cannot participate in the negotiations “relative to an employee contract or collective bargaining which addresses or affects the employment, compensation or benefits of any person within her family or a household member." But once the contracts are negotiated, Bucka is allowed to participate in discussions and votes on contracts once they are in their entirety.

The ruling did say Bucka should be "vigilant" in recognizing when contract discussions stray into specific aspects of contract that could pertain to her husband. If that happens, the ruling said Bucka should recuse herself.

Bucka also sought the commission for guidance on if she could take vote on two other items while a member of the school committee. She asked if she can participate in budget discussions and discussions on collective bargaining/employee contract negotiations for the district's custodians and paraprofessionals unions. The Ethics Commission said she can participate under all these circumstances.

See the Ethics Commission's ruling regarding Bucka here.