Board approves new contracts for custodians, hourly technical staff and managers

The Osseo-area school board approved three separate collective-bargaining or employment agreements during its Nov. 19 meeting, covering custodial staff, hourly-technical employees, and a management employee group.

Human-resources director Yvonne Schwartzland summarized each settlement. For custodians (the agreement with Minnesota Teamsters Local 320, effective 07/01/2024–06/30/2026), she described class-based starting pay increases (Class 1 starting pay stated as $19.28 per hour with a stated increase to $20.00 in the second year), class/step increases (many classes receiving 2% increases in the first year and specified larger step increases for the highest class), pay differentials for licenses and shifts, and increased employer cost-sharing for health coverage. Schwartzland described the agreement as a "6.61 total package" and read a total financial-investment figure as "$1,220,000 $668" in the meeting materials. The board approved the contract by a 6–0 vote.

The hourly-technical agreement (46 employees) included a 5% base increase for fiscal year 2024–25 and a 1% base increase for 2025–26; salary-range increases were described as a cumulative 9.3% change and pay-for-performance will be paid as a stipend rather than added to base pay. The board approved that agreement 6–0.

A management I–M group contract was also approved; it included a 5% increase in the earlier fiscal year followed by a 3% increase in 2024–25, conversion of non-work days to vacation days, increased deferred compensation and life insurance, and other MOUs. Schwartzland described that two-year package as an 8.91% total increase with a stated total investment of $877,352 over the term. The board approved the management contract 6–0.

Directors thanked staff and negotiators for the work to reach the agreements.