The West Fargo School Board unanimously approved a two-year pay and benefits package for its classified employees Monday.
The vote increases their pay and benefits 4.73 percent in 2007-08 and 5.03 percent in 2008-09. It will cost $454,315 in 2007-08, bringing classified staff expenses to $10,068,042. It will cost another $506,591 in 2008-09, bringing classified staff expenses to $10,574,633, Human Resources Director Robin Hill said.
Classified staff include mechanics, maintenance workers, administrative assistants, occupational therapists, interpreters, nurses, technology specialists and accountants, Hill said.
Other benefits include faster accrual and access to vacation for full-time year-round employees. New workers can start taking vacation two months after starting with the district, rather than six months. Also, employees with one to five years of service will get 12 days of vacation; six to 10 years, 15 days; 11 to 15 years, 18 days; 16 to 20 years, 21 days; and more than 21 years, 24 days.
Longtime employees can earn another paid holiday. Ten-year employees now get Thanksgiving week Friday as a holiday. Under the new plan, 15-year employees will be eligible for Christmas Eve as a second holiday.
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In a related issue, Hill said the state fact-finding commission that was called to determine a solution to stalled teacher contract talks has offered two days for hearings in West Fargo - Sept. 15 and Sept. 22, both at 1:30 p.m.
The board directed Hill to ask for Sept. 22. The date must also be approved by the West Fargo Education Association.
In other business, the board:
- Approved hiring three full-time teachers, a half-time music teacher, a half-time physical education teacher and a full-time special educational strategist at a cost of $217,200. Most of the positions will go to Aurora Elementary.
- Approved adding three bus routes and more food service help at Aurora. The 12 extra hours a day of pay and benefits will cost $28,780.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583
