North Hills School District Board of Education approved a five-year
contract with the North Hills Educational Support Personnel Association on Dec.
5. The union represents approximately 110 North Hills employees including
paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, LPNs, clerks, building-level computer
technicians and nearly all secretaries. Union members ratified the contract on Nov.
8. The previous four-year contract expired on June 30, 2016, and employees have
been working under the terms of the previous contract.
“This contract represents a sustainable compromise by employees and the district in an uncertain funding environment,” said Edward Wielgus, North Hills Board of Education president. “Balancing the needs of our taxpayers and desires of district employees can be a challenge, but I am proud that we were able to find a compromise that pleases our employees and upholds the district's fiscally responsible ideals.”
The new contract includes wages and salary increases in line with the district’s recently negotiated contracts with custodial and maintenance staff, food service employees and district teachers.
The average salary increase will be 3.83 percent in the first
year of the contract, 3.17 percent in the second year, 2.56 percent in the third
year, 2.45 percent in the fourth year and 2.39 percent in the fifth and final
year of the contract.
Negotiating teams for the school district and the union have
been meeting since January 2016. The newly approved contract expires in June 2021.
“We are pleased to have reached an amicable agreement with the district that preserves our vital positions. As many of our employees are residents of North Hills School District, our first priority has been and will always remain the North Hills students,” said Cynthia Benoit, ESPA president.