While the terms of the contract with bus drivers is public because the union has already ratified it, the terms of the contract with the association have not been released pending an expected ratification by the association later this month.

A third contract involving custodians is expected to be finalized and voted on soon.

Negotiations with the education association have been quite contentious at times. Association members have picketed board meetings and aired their dissatisfaction with the negotiations in the media.

"I believe that the citizens will feel represented in the terms of this contract and that the teachers will feel valued," SAD 46 Chief Negotiator Art Jette said after Wednesday's late night meeting. "It's a big relief, and I think it will be a big relief to the community," he said of the vote on the education association contract.

In the three-year contract with bus drivers, directors approved a 3 percent salary increase in each of the three years ending in 2008.

Directors agreed to pay 100 percent of the cost of single subscriber Anthem Choice Plus Health insurance for all bus drivers who regularly work at least 35 hours for the district per week.

Part-time employees who regularly work less than 35 hours for the district per week but at least 20 hours per week will receive prorated coverage.

The contract also provides those employees who have worked a minimum of 10 years in the district with two days of accumulated sick leave for every year worked, up to a maximum of 40 days, which will be paid upon retirement, death or in the event of permanent layoff.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Thursday, August 25, 2005 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."