BOARD, PRESSA AGREE TO THREE-YEAR CONTRACT
The Board of Education has approved a three year contract (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2010) with the Princeton Regional Support Staff Association (PRESSA) representing the district’s secretarial, custodial and maintenance and aide paraprofessionals. The annual increases in each of the three years is 3.4% and for the first time, contributions toward health benefits will be made for all new employees hired after July 1 , 2007.
The contract calls for a 3% increase in July and a 1% increase in February in each of the three years. Employees whose salaries are under $25,000 as of June 30 in each year of the contract will receive an additional $200. Instructional assistants who have New Jersey instructional certification will be paid a $200 stipend, not added to base, in each year of the contract.
The number of hours an employee must work to receive health benefits was increased from 20 hours to 30 hours per week. The contract also requires that all employees pay more for the cost of all prescription drugs, except generics. Brand name drugs will rise from $15 to $20. Mail order drugs, now free, will cost $5 for up to a 90-day supply. Generic drugs, now $10, will stay the same.
Employees hired after July 1, 2007 will see a reduction in the number of vacation days allotted. Also, future employees will have their sick leave days reduced and newly hired employees whose work week is less than 30 hours shall not be given leave time.
An employee attendance incentive program was eliminated from the contract. Leave replacement personnel will have a 60-day delay in the start of their health coverage and there will be no benefits for any leave replacement hired after February 1 of each school year.
Employees hired after July 1, 2007 will pay $200 toward the cost of single coverage; $300 toward the cost for parent-child/husband-wife coverage and/or $400 to offset the cost for family coverage.
The contract increases the option for employees to waive health benefits and receive a cash payment as well as to opt out if a spouse also works for the district. New employees will be required to choose from one of the three Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans instead of selecting from more expensive health care plan coverages.
Employees with students attending the Princeton Regional Schools will see a $250 increase in the cost of tuition payments in year two of the contract and another $250 increase in year three of the contract.
Maintenance employees responsible for shoveling snow during the winter season will have their hourly pay frozen at their 2007-2008 rates for the length of the contract. Additionally, starting salaries will be frozen for instructional aides, custodians and secretaries for the length of the contract.
PRESSA ratified the contract prior to the Board’s approval by a vote of 73-3.
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