During a special Board meeting in May, the Ada Board of Education approved a new, three-year contract with its teachers’ union, the Ada Education Association (AEA). 

At the June meeting, it approved a new (also three-year) contract with its classified staff, the Ada Classified Association (ACA).  Both unions also ratified the tentative agreements, Meri Skilliter, Ada superintendent, told the Icon.

Contract summary
Both contracts include 3% raises a year, for each of the three years of the contract. 

The AEA agreed to pay an additional portion of its hospitalization insurance, going from 6% to 10%, phased in over the life of the contract. 

The ACA agreed to pay 2% of its hospitalization insurance (having previously negotiated, in 2016, for 100% paid by the Board in return for smaller raises and all members taking the HSA plan). 

Additional language adjustments were made to sections regarding personal leave, such as limiting the number of teachers who may be out on personal leave. 

The pay for bus trips (as opposed to day time bus routes) was raised to $15 per hour.  Other language changes were primarily to match language in updated legislation or Ohio Department of Education guidelines.

According Skilliter, “The Board was able to provide raises to both unions for the coming years, while having employees pick up a little more of their hospitalization costs. 

"We appreciate the work that our teachers and staff do for our students, and I’m grateful that we can provide fair wages and working conditions, while maximizing the educational experience of our students.”

Both contracts go into effect on July 1, 2019, and will expire on June 30, 2022.