Athens Area School District approves multiple contracts and new teacher and support-staff agreements

The Athens Area School District board on its October agenda approved a package of contracts and ratified new collective bargaining agreements for both teachers and support staff.

Dr. Stage, the district superintendent, summarized the contracts approved by the board, which included a clinical education experience agreement to host school psychologists, an updated social worker contract with revised rates, a Main Link partnership offering supportive student services at no cost, a plan maintenance agreement with the McClure Company for HVAC upkeep (confirmed as a one‑year, year‑to‑year contract), and services from the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission to support career-education compliance under Act 338. The board also approved a four‑year collective bargaining agreement for teachers (first‑year pay increase ~3.5% with smaller increases thereafter and increased health‑care contributions) and a five‑year agreement for support staff that raises starting hourly wages.

A board roll call recorded approval of the contracts package. Mr. Johnson asked for a clarification that the McClure Company contract is one year only; Dr. Stage corrected an earlier statement that had characterized it as multi‑year.

Why it matters: the bargaining agreements set compensation and benefits that will affect staffing costs and district labor relations for multiple years, while the maintenance and service agreements affect day‑to‑day operations (HVAC, clinical placements, career‑education compliance). The Northern Tier arrangement also supports the district’s required evidence collection for career coaches under state law.

Board next steps: the district will implement the terms of the agreements and proceed with the contracted services; no further substantive debate on these items was recorded.