BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      A new, three-year contract between the Boardman Board of Education and its teachers union, the Boardman Education Association (BEA), will cost the school district $2.416 million in salary increases over the span of the agreement, that takes effect on July 1. In addition, health care allocations paid for by the district will increase some $700,000.
      The agreement was unanimously approved by the Board of Education last week.
      Also, according to the agreement, members of the BEA will also receive a one-time, $1500 cost of living stipend, and employee contributions for health insurance will increase by 5 per cent.
      The school district says it employs “nearly 300 teachers.” An online source called the Public School Review says the district employed 210 teachers in the 2020-21 school year.
      Spread over the term of the agreement, teachers’ pay raises will cost the district $770,631 for the 2023-24 year; $805,078 for the 2024-25 year; and $841,065 for the 2025-26 year, according to Supt. Tim Saxton.
      The base (beginning) salary will increase from $37,805 during the first year of the agreement, to $42.276 in its third year.
      Maximum teacher salaries will rise from $81,188 for the 2023-24 year to $86,134 for the 2025-26 year.
      According to the newly-approved negotiated agreement, the Board of Education will allocate $6.9 million during the 2023-24 school year for medical insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision) and health insurance payments will increase to $7.6 million in the 2025-26 school year.
      “Health insurance costs above the allocated amount will be offset by increased employee contribution, and/or a plan/design change as determined by the Boardman Local Schools Health Insurance Committee,” says the negotiated agreement.
      “It’s important that Boardman stays competitive salary wise to attract and retain top educators...but we have to balance that concern with fiscal responsibility to the community. I firmly believe this contract accomplishes both,” Supt. Saxton said.
      BEA president Brandy Barborak said the new contract is a “fair compromise that takes into account the needs of our students, the good of the community, and the dedication our members have to the district and to Boardman in general.”