Ed techs win raises
in 3-year contract
Sick days were increased from
10 to 15.
RUMFORD – SAD 43 directors approved a three-year contract Monday night for the district’s 55 educational technicians.
They also heard a plan by the Rumford Water District for building an entrance to a proposed water pumping station at the edge of Mountain Valley High School property.
The three-year contract, which runs from July 1 through June 30, 2007, includes a 2 percent pay raise in the first year, then 2.5 percent increases for each of the remaining two years.
Other changes include a boost in annual sick days from 10 to 15, and an allowed accumulation of 120 days for educational technicians except for those who work for the district for more than 15 years. Such long-time employees may accumulate up to 150 sick days.
Dental coverage for employees will be provided as well as one personal day per year without having to give a reason.
Workshop days, now at one per year, were increased to four annually so that educational technicians may keep their credentials up-to-date.
SAD 43, among other districts, is looking into ways to regionalize purchases and services. Another part of the contract allows for negotiations to be re-opened if a regional measure affecting workers is put into place.
Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said negotiations went smoothly under a so-called collaborative process. Neither the district nor the bargaining unit hired representatives during the negotiation process.
With the educational technician contract settled, and the nutrition services workers contract settled earlier in the school year, the district has three bargaining units remaining in negotiations: teachers, administrators and secretaries.
Brian Gagnon of the Rumford Water District presented information to the board describing a plan by the town to build a new, $750,000 pumping station on 200 acres recently purchased off Route 120. He said the town plans to construct an entrance to the new station that must be accessed along an edge of the MVHS auditorium parking lot.
He said municipal water employees will likely use the entrance one or two days a week.
The board also:
• Learned that the district received a $34,000 technology grant for use in professional development.
• Re-appointed Marlene Gile to another three-year term on the Region 9 cooperative board.
Following the public portion of the meeting, the board entered into four closed sessions. The first three to consider student disciplinary matters and the fourth to take up a personnel issue.
eadams@sunjournal.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
