Laurel Highlands board OKs early bird contract
The Laurel Highlands school board and teachers Tuesday approved an early bird contract. The school board met in special session at 6 p.m. in the high school library and voted 8-0 on the contract, with school director Curtis Jacobs absent.
The Laurel Highlands Education Association met starting at 6:30 to review the proposal and vote.
The contract was approved shortly after 8 a.m. by a vote of 141 to 11, according to LHEA president Gerald Pegg.
There are 243 members of the Laurel Highlands Education Association and negotiations on the contract began in mid-December according to district officials. The old contract doesn’t expire until August of this year.
According to Dr. Gary Brain, the district superintendent, there is no across-the-board increase in the two-year agreement. Salary increases will be based on movement through the steps of the salary scale, with some adjustments to the steps and longevity payment in the second year of the contract, though Brain said the salary schedule itself has not been changed.
“The biggest change was in the insurance,” Brain said.
The teachers will pay an additional $10 per month toward their health insurance during the contract, with the contribution going to $35 a month for individual coverage and $60 a month for all other coverage options.
In addition retirees who chose to continue their medical insurance after retirement will pay $100 a month for coverage for the retiree and spouse coverage.
“It was a realistic money deal with some benefits adjustments,” Pegg said. “Both sides were very cooperative.”
In addition to the financial and benefits issues, the two sides also agreed to an evening parent teacher conference and a “Meet the Teacher” night at the beginning of the school year to improve communications between the parents and staff.
Jim Tobal, who heads the personnel committee, said talks will start with the nonprofessional employees on Feb. 2.
In other matters Tuesday, the board agreed to interview a fifth candidate for the head football position after one of the district’s assistant coaches, Gary Pillar, questioned why he was left off of the interview list.
Pillar noted that he has experience coaching both high school and college football.
Larry Zebley, who chairs the athletics committee, said the four applicants already interviewed have head coaching experience, but Pillar’s application will also be reviewed and an interview granted.
During a building and grounds committee meeting immediately following the special meeting building and grounds supervisor Craig McKee asked the board to review materials he had provided in the past regarding ways to conduct a building renovation project. McKee said the board will need to decide in the near future how it wants to handle project management.
Brain asked the board to consider various options, since hiring a project manager at a rate based upon the construction contract could add millions to the project.
McKee also reported that an 8-inch water line to the hydrants at the high school burst over the weekend, but repairs were made with no disruption to the class schedule.
McKee said the district has also seen cost savings this year by using bulk salt purchased through the state bid program at $62 per ton instead of buying it by the bag at a rate equal to $200 per ton.
It was noted that the burglar alarm and camera systems are working in all of the school buildings. An improved video intercom system has been installed at one elementary school, with plans to upgrade other buildings as finances allow in the future.