By Neil Doyle
FARMER CITY – The Blue Ridge Board of Education will meet Wednesday to vote on a new three-year contract with employees in the district.
The Blue Ridge Federation of Teachers met Sunday and ratified the new agreement, according to a news release Monday.
The agreement includes annual salary increases of 2.75 percent plus any step increases on the salary schedule, an increase in the salary for beginning teachers to $37,026/year in the first year, and higher in the two successive years.
The district will also contribute $2,500 per year to Health Savings Accounts for employees who receive district health insurance. Sick leave will increase from 14 days per year to 14-21 days per year depending on years of service. Other items addressed in the new contract included extended use of personal days, terms for use of short-term substitutes, and elimination of fair-share requirements.
The union threatened to strike if no agreement was reached by the end of the month. Contract negotiations started in February, and included four sessions with a federal mediator.
The union represents 110 Blue Ridge employees, including teachers, drivers, cooks, secretaries, nurses, library clerks, and custodians.
Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]
