LOUDONVILLE — The Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools Board of Education approved two union agreements with its teachers and its public school employees on Monday.
The new deals are with the Loudonville-Perrysville Education Association (LPEA) and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE), who represent the district’s teachers and the district’s classified employees like bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers, respectively.
The largest change in the new pacts is the district’s switch to a new health plan with lower monthly premiums but higher deductibles, superintendent Catherine Puster said.
Loudonville-Perrysville’s previous insurance plan was costing the district too much, so both unions agreed to switch to a cheaper plan, Board of Education President John Carroll said.
“It really speaks a lot towards the camaraderie and the working together, the board working together with the LPEA and OAPSE to get that done. I think it puts the district in a better position moving forward,” Carroll said.
The agreements also outlined raises for employees; both groups of employees will receive a 4-percent raise this year, a 3.5-percent raise next year, and a 3-percent raise in 2024.
Additionally, to help recruit and retain staff, all employees will receive three annual stipends in September of each year. The stipend for 2022 is $2,000, and it decreases by $250 for the following years.
The new agreements will last until July 31, 2024.
The board also approved bus routes, a student handbook, new hires, professional trips, and a slew of other motions.
