MONROE - The Monroe school board Monday approved a two-year contract with support staff that includes a total package increase of 2.6 percent in wages and benefits.
Ron Olson, district business administrator, said the last contract between the district and Monroe Association of Support Staff (MASS), which was for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years, had a wages and benefits increase of 5.5 percent.
"MASS understands the economic times and the financial status in the district," Olson said.
MASS members also accepted an extra $200 deductible in their insurance premiums and a higher co-pay for medication.
The contract calls for an across-the-board increase of 75 cents per hour for all support staff for the 2010-11 school year, and a 50 cents increase in wages for the 2011-12 school year, said school board member Larry Eakins, who represents the district in negotiations.
The support staff approved the contract Wednesday.
Eakins told the board that while the support staff and the district negotiating committee were on opposite sides during the negotiating process, both were willing to work with each other and that was important in reaching an agreement.
The MASS contracts are negotiated every two years, in opposite years of the contracts with the Monroe Education Association.
The contract with the support staff is for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years.
Ron Olson, district business administrator, said the last contract between the district and Monroe Association of Support Staff (MASS), which was for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years, had a wages and benefits increase of 5.5 percent.
"MASS understands the economic times and the financial status in the district," Olson said.
MASS members also accepted an extra $200 deductible in their insurance premiums and a higher co-pay for medication.
The contract calls for an across-the-board increase of 75 cents per hour for all support staff for the 2010-11 school year, and a 50 cents increase in wages for the 2011-12 school year, said school board member Larry Eakins, who represents the district in negotiations.
The support staff approved the contract Wednesday.
Eakins told the board that while the support staff and the district negotiating committee were on opposite sides during the negotiating process, both were willing to work with each other and that was important in reaching an agreement.
The MASS contracts are negotiated every two years, in opposite years of the contracts with the Monroe Education Association.
The contract with the support staff is for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years.