The Wabash District #348 Board of Education approved a new three-year collective bargaining agreement Monday morning with the Wabash County Education Association, which represents the district's non-certified employees.
The agreement covers secretaries, nurse secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, cooks, aides, assistants, paraprofessionals, and parent coordinators and educators.
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer praised both negotiating teams following the board's approval of the contract.
Bleyer said the negotiations went extremely well and described the process as positive and professional. He noted that union representatives sent a message thanking the district's negotiating team for the manner in which discussions were conducted.
Under the new agreement, employees will receive a 20 percent wage increase during the first year of the contract, followed by 2 percent raises in each of the next two years.
Bleyer said the district made a significant investment in employee pay and believes the new contract is already having a positive impact on recruitment efforts.
He told board members the district has begun seeing new hires come on board and feels the improved compensation package is helping attract qualified employees.
The newly approved agreement will remain in effect for the next three years.