Yough board approves contract with employees

The Yough School Board approved a new five-year agreement between the school district and Local Union #769, District Council 83 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, effective from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020, during last week's regular meeting.

Local #769 represents custodians, maintenance workers, secretarial and clerical workers, utility athletic technicians, aides and business office employees.

The new contract is comparable to the three-year contract that is expiring at the end of June, according to Yough Superintendent Janet Sardon.

Eligible employees will receive 3 percent wage increases annually and a $2 reduction for new hires has been built in. Teacher aides will be getting an additional personal day as well, Sardon said.

Also approved was an extension of the Excela Health Athletic Training Services for three years, through the 2017-18 school year, at a cost of $17,000. The agreement is for one certified athletic trainer, with Excela providing a casual call certified athletic trainer upon request at the rate of $25 per hour in the first year and $27 per hour in the next two years.

Yough alumnus Terry Quashnock was approved as assistant middle school track coach.

The directors voted 7-2 to approve the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center moving forward on procuring a tax anticipation note for the 2015-16 school year. The district's share of the cost of interest is estimated to be approximately $68,000. Directors dissenting were Chris Boucher and Gregg Nogy.

William S. Zirkle is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at bzirkle@tribweb.com or 724-872-6800.