Board ratifies transportation contract and updates administrators' handbook

The Milan Area Schools Board approved a new master agreement with the district's transportation employees and adopted revisions to the administrators' handbook during the regular meeting.

Superintendent McMahon summarized negotiations with the transportation department: sick leave, bereavement and personal leave were updated to comply with Michigan's earned sick time requirements; two paid holidays were added for bus drivers (Labor Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day); attendance-bonus language was inserted; and the wage package provides a 3.03% across-the-scale increase. The board voted to ratify the Transportation Association master agreement (attachment C) on a 6-0 vote.

Separately, McMahon reviewed several handbook changes (attachment D). Revisions include clarifying that employees hired after June 1, 2025 will follow the administrative salary schedule while those hired before remain on the non-affiliated schedule; three director roles were retitled to "executive director" variants (student services, finance, early childhood); limits were placed on vacation-to-sick-day rollovers (maximum 10 days); and terminal leave eligibility and amounts were revised with minimum service conditions. Trustees approved the handbook updates by a unanimous vote.

Why it matters: The transportation agreement affects wages, benefits and holidays for drivers and support staff; handbook changes alter compensation schedules and retirement-related payments for administrators.

What's next: Administration will finalize contract documents and update HR/payroll systems to reflect the new wage schedule and handbook provisions.