Perkins Schools approves new union contracts

PERKINS TWP. — Unionized employees at Perkins Schools will get higher wages with their newly ratified agreements. During a recent special public meeting, board members unanimously approved two separate three-year contracts for: • The Perkins Education Association, representing teachers The new contract has a 2.5% increase in base wages each year of its contract, $20,000 in life insurance coverage and a change in teacher evaluations. • The Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 341 (OAPSE) for secretaries, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodians and other staff. OAPSE's new contract includes base pay increases of 2.75% each year of the three-year pact. The contract also calls for the creation of a sick leave reserve, and verified experience will be granted to attract qualified new employees. Both unions also will increase their share of health insurance premiums from 15% to 16% the first year, 17% the second year and 18% the third year. The new contracts take effect on July 1 and last through June 30, 2024. During that time frame, both contracts will collectively cost the district an additional $1.5 million, but local taxpayers will not see an increase in their taxes, district spokesman Jeff Stacklin said. Superintendent Todd Boggs said he was pleased the negotiations finished by the end of a challenging school year amid the pandemic. "I would like to thank Alice James and the (teachers union) leadership, and Wayne Ramey and the (employees Local 341) leadership as well as the Perkins board of education for their dedication thoughts and ideas and hard work to make Perkins Local Schools an even better school system for our students and families," Boggs said. "The contracts resulted from very positive negotiations that came at the end of a very difficult year during the pandemic." Board president Jason Dulaney agreed. "I'm proud of all the hard work our administrative team and the union representatives put in to complete negotiations in a timely manner," Dulaney said. "I'm thankful that during this difficult year that negotiations went smoothly and that teaching and learning were priorities for everyone." The teachers' contract was ratified by its members in May. Alice James, the president of the teachers union, said the new contract is fair for all parties involved. "After many hours of negotiations in April, the 130 members of the Perkins Education Association and the Perkins Board of Education have reached an agreement," James said. "The positive outcome for both have set the path for another three great years here in the Perkins Local School District." Perkins Schools' non-teaching union members, who work in various capacities, also adopted their new contract recently. OAPSE Local 341 president Wayne Ramey said he was satisfied with the negotiation process. "We were able to reach a very fair package," Ramey said. "We have an agreement that meets the needs of our more than 100 members and the administration. It's a deal that benefits all the Perkins Schools family, including our students, staff, administrators and the community." Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood