School board agreement ratifies with support staff

by Ken Johnston
Editor

The Rainy River District School Board and the Educational Support Personnel have jointly ratified a proposed first agreement which is in effect from September 1, 2001 to August 31, 2003. The Rainy River District School Board ratified this contract at a Board meeting September 4, 2001.

The Educational Support Personnel approved this two year agreement which provided a 3% expenditure to the 2001-2001 board budget. This contract provides a salary increase of 1.5% September 2001, 1.5% February 2002, and 2% September 2002 for all Educational Support Personnel (educational assistants, communications assistants, library technicians and library assistants) in all board schools.

Ron McAlister, negotiating team Board Member, Rainy River District School Board, said “This agreement is the result of positive bargaining between the Board and the Union. The goal of high quality education for all district students continues to remain a key priority for the next school year.”

The contract reflects a change in the entitlement to float holidays for Educational Support Personnel. Employees with 100 or more sick days will be granted an additional float holiday. This change aligns this employee group with other groups in the provision of float holidays to sick day credits.

“We are pleased that all employee groups are under current contracts and look forward to a successful school year for students, staff and parents,” said Warren Hoshizaki, Director of Education.