
By Adam Studzinski
NORMAL – The Unit 5 Board of Education approved a new contract for its custodian and maintenance staff Wednesday.
The three-year deal includes a two percent wage increase. District attorney Curt Richardson said there’s also a one-time payment to staff of $250.
“That is in exchange for (a) reduction in the number of positions on Tier One of a two-tier wage schedule,” said Richardson. “Tier One is a higher wage schedule. Tier Two is an entry level wage schedule.”
Richardson said there is also the opportunity to renegotiate wages sooner.
“There’s a wage re-opener this next school year to renegotiate the wages,” he added.
Also included in the contract is the ability for employees to build up three days worth of compensation time, rather than the previous two.
Additionally, the school board has officially amended its current budget to show a $400,000 gap in the education fund. The deficit is due to missed payments by the state.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].