Under the three-year contract, which was ratified by custodians in recent weeks, there will be a 3 percent wage increase in 2006 and 2008, but no increase in 2007.

SAD 46 Superintendent Kevin Jordan said Thursday that the dental plan for the custodians will terminate at the end of 2006. In its place, the board will pay 100 percent of the single subscriber cost for Anthem Choice Plus health insurance for custodians who work at least 35 hours a week effective July 1, 2006.

The board also will make available $8,500 for full-time year-round employees' dependent health coverage. In essence, Jordan said, the custodians gave up the 3 percent increase in 2007 in exchange for a higher level of dependent coverage.

"The negotiation process with the custodians went very well," Jordan said Thursday. "It was very positive on both sides, with both sides looking for an agreement that was fair to the taxpayers and fair to the members of their association."

Directors also held an executive session to discuss the proposed purchase of land on Garland Road for construction of a new primary-middle school. Board members were updated on negotiations, according to Jordan. Three properties have been targeted, and directors are looking at each parcel to determine which would have better access off the road, he said.

Jordan expects that a choice will be made within 30 days.

Once a property is selected, two appraisals must be conducted as per state law, according to Jordan. The proposed purchase then will be aired at public hearings with a straw vote conducted later.

The project then would advance to the State Board of Education for site approval, he said.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Saturday, October 08, 2005 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."