North Daviess bus compromise?

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September 21, 2009

By Nate Smith, Staff Writer The Washington Times-Herald Mon Sep 21, 2009, 10:22 PM EDT

ELNORA — North Daviess bus drivers were once again before the North Daviess School Board on Monday to speak about bus contracts.

The board later tried to compromise with the drivers, but it is not known if all the drivers will accept the agreement.

At issue is the value of the bus contracts, signed earlier this year. The drivers are contending they are not getting what they made in previous contracts due to the drop in diesel fuel.

Melinda Perkins, a daughter of a ND bus driver and spokesperson for the drivers, said the drivers were willing to compromise if the bottom fuel price in the contract was lowered to $3 and the maximum was raised to $5.

“We also truly believe compromise is key,” Perkins said. “The drivers are going to give if (the board is) willing to give.”

Also, the drivers asked that base pay remain the same or higher as previous contracts. Perkins presented the board with data mined from bus contracts and compared them with contracts from other school corporations. She also mentioned rising costs in bus maintenance and the fact drivers may have to purchase a new bus in coming years to meet safety requirements.

Perkins acknowledged that the drivers should have realized the difference before signing, but wanted to act “in good faith.”

“Everyone agrees we should have brought this up sooner,” Perkins said.

Later in the meeting, Superintendent Robert Bell brought and motioned for one of the compromises the drivers asked for, lowering the bottom to $3 and raising the maximum to $5.

“There was negotiations. I don’t like negotiations but at the end I tried to keep everyone pretty much in line,” Bell said.

Bell said the take-home pay that drivers get is the same amount of pay no matter of the escalation or lowering of fuel.

“When I look at a base bid and whether it escalate and de-escalates, it doesn’t affect the take-home dollar,” Bell said.

Board members were initially supportive of the proposed compromise, but some did not want two bus contracts. Board member Bud Woodruff proposed that bus drivers have to re-sign the contract.

The board unanimously voted for the compromise. But after the meeting, some drivers were skeptical of the contract and said they will have to look at the new contract.

“I don’t think it is going to pass,” Perkins said. “I’m not sure, but a lot of the drivers were not happy with the compromise.”

Bell said after the meeting the drivers want to make sure their base pay does not go down.

In other business

BUDGET

The board approved the 2010 budget, capital project, school bus replacement plan and budget resolutions. The budget will be sent to the state Department of Local Government Finance for review.

PERSONNEL

The board approved the resignation of Delbert Gingerich as seventh grade girls basketball coach and Makyla Wagler as junior high cheerleading coach.

The following appointments were approved by the board: Heather Harp, Tegan Parsons, Roberta Rink and Danielle Wagler, Just Say No sponsors; Cassie Collins, Math Bowl sponsor; Liana Reed, seventh grade girls basketball coach; David Mallett, seventh grade girls volunteer basketball coach; Travis Yoder, sixth grade girls basketball coach; Kerry Wagler, fifth grade girls basketball coach; Jon Britton, sixth grade boys assistant basketball coach; and Garrett Byrer, fifth grade boys assistant basketball coach.

ENERGY SAVINGS UPDATE

Bell reported to the board that updates to the schools with its energy savings contract are almost complete. He said the project will be fully complete by the end of October.

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