Support staff to receive two percent pay increase.

A 1-year contract extension for support staff members was approved this week by the Leland Board of Education.

Board members voted 7-0 Monday night to approve the extension, which provides a 2 percent salary increase for the 2008-09 school year. A similar pact with the Leland Education Association was ratified late last month.

Affected staff members include food service workers, bus drivers, teacher aide and all but one secretary, business manager Sandra Potts said.

The increase was made possible, in part, because of a change in drug coverage that will save the district an estimated $14,000 through the remainder of the 2007-08 school year.
Support staff workers have also ratified the extension.

In related business Monday night, Superintendent Mike Hartigan reported that a new state law will allow school districts to access the claims history of its insured group. The information can be used to actively bid for insurance coverage and possibly realize additional savings.

Hartigan said that Leland, Suttons Bay and Northport schools may form a consortium through which bids will be sought. Glen Lake was not considered since the district’s teachers are organized through the Michigan Federation of Teachers, and not the Michigan Education Association.

Another option under consideration is joining part of a larger group through the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District.

“The larger the pool, the better the price,” Hartigan said.

Although the new state law requires insurance companies to provide schools with claims history of its insured group, the Michigan Education Special Services Association, through which Leland is insured, has said it doesn’t keep this information,” Hartigan said.

In other business during the 11⁄4-hour meeting, the board:

• Heard a presentation from high school teacher Mark Smith on his “global issues” class.

• Approved a resolution to collect summer taxes in 2008. The district will begin the negotiation process with townships contracted to provide the collection.

• Tabled action on proposed dual sports participation guidelines pending review by coaching staff.