July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

SA teacher contract ratified (11/14/07)

South Adams School Board

By By JACK RONALD-

BERNE - South Adams teachers will receive a 2.3 percent pay increase under a new contract approved Tuesday.

"The master contract was ratified (by members of the teachers' union) tonight after school," superintendent Cathy Egolf told the South Adams School Board.

The board responded by unanimously approving the contract.

"The negotiations were very good, very amiable, very honest," Egolf said.

The contract also calls for a one-half percent increase in the teachers' retirement annuity.

Board members were also unanimous in approving the sale of $1.675 million in general obligation bonds to J.P. Morgan Chase to fund the initial stages of the new school construction project.

J.P. Morgan Chase was one of four bidders and offered the best interest rate, 3.5 percent.

Because the new kindergarten through grade eight facility is being constructed using the design/build format, financing will come in two bond issues, one for the initial stages and a much larger one when construction begins in earnest. The result is expected to be lower interest costs for the project.

In addition to J.P. Morgan Chase, Regions Bank, Old National Bank, and City Securities also bid on the bond issue.

Bids will be sought for the next phase of renovations to the South Adams High School swimming pool. Work on pool improvements have been under way, and the next phase is deepening the pool so that it meets state safety requirements for diving.

In other business, the board:

•Decided to move forward at its next meeting with a paperless, computer-based agenda, using laptop computers and computers at the high school.

•Re-appointed Naomi Lehman to the board of trustees at the Berne Public Library.

•Approved a leave request for Kathy Tully and a medical leave and retirement request for Sylvia Lawson.

•Granted Egolf the authority to accept resignations and fill staff vacancies when they arise, with ratification of those actions to come at the next scheduled board meeting.

•Reviewed on first reading a change in policy that would affect the high school handbook's rules on cell phones and other electronic devices. Currently, the handbook states that such devices are to be turned off during the school day. The revision would also require that they be locked in student lockers or in student cars during the school day.

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