The contracts include two-percent raises in each of the first two years of the contract and three-percent in the third year. In exchange, the employees will be covered by a high-deductible health insurance plan, expected to reduce premiums by 18.5 percent, according to a statement released by the district.
In 2013, teachers nearly went on strike before reaching agreement with the previous board. The board indicated it was ready to hire replacement workers.
“Given the concessions that we have made in the past, going without step increases or raises for years, the Springboro teachers’ salaries are still amongst the lowest in Warren County,” Josh Cawein, spokesman for the Springboro Education Association, said in the statement issued Monday night.
Negotiations began in February for teachers, classified employees in April.
Superintendent Todd Petrey said the contracts came in response to “an overwhelming amount of retirements” in the last four years. Because about 30 percent of the staff is new to the district, all staff had to be presented with a competitive salary and benefits package, he said.
The concessions on health care made by employees will result in $918,000 in savings over four years, according to Treasurer Terrah Floyd. The deductible for a single employee will be $2,000, $4,000 for a family.
The board will contribute $760,000, 50 percent of the deductible to employees’ health spending account in each of the first two years of the contract, and about $685, 000, 45 percent of the deductible in the third year.
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