Board approves one-year mediated tentative agreements that expand benefits for secretarial and support staff

The Waterford School District Board unanimously approved one-year mediated tentative agreements with MESPA 1 (secretarial staff) and MESPA 3 (food service, transportation, custodial and maintenance employees) after the agreements were ratified by their memberships.

Ms. Pfeil (labor/negotiations lead) outlined key provisions for MESPA 1: step increases for eligible employees, a retention bonus, a shortened probationary period to accelerate access to insurance and fringe benefits, updated Earned Sick Time Act language, a new annual educational advancement stipend recognizing degree/certification attainment, a revision to vacation-day payout for employees hired prior to 2017, and an increase in longevity pay.

For MESPA 3 the agreement similarly includes step increases and retention bonuses, a shortened probationary period, additional paid sick days, one additional paid holiday, expanded vacation days for some employees, alignment of overtime procedures across groups, higher compensation for professional certificates for skilled trades workers, increased longevity pay, and an expanded uniform allowance. Importantly, MESPA 3 will offer full family health-care options to both 10- and 12-month employees in that group, a change negotiated to help recruit and retain bus drivers and other staff who previously were limited to single coverage.

Board members thanked negotiating teams and noted that while wage scales did not change, the agreements were framed as investments to improve recruitment and retention amid funding uncertainty at the state level.

The board approved both mediated agreements by voice vote (MESPA 1: 7-0; MESPA 3: 7-0).