ASHLAND — Ashland City Schools administration inked a one-year extension to its contract with the local chapter of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees on Monday, according to a district news release.
The contract was originally set to expire in December 2023. The deal, however, was extended through December 2024 and now includes raises and a better longevity pay system, according to Kim Chance, the local chapter’s president.
“(District administration) offered us this extension,” Chance said.
Chance, of Ashland, has served as OAPSE Local #233 president for around 18 months. She is running for re-election in April. She also works as a bus driver and a noon-duty paraprofessional at Edison Elementary School.
The extended contract gives classified employees a 2.25% raise in 2024, mirroring the same raise that Ashland City Teachers Association employees received in 2022.
The ACTA contract, which covers certified staff, is set to expire June 30. The district began negotiating a new contract in early March.
The deal with OAPSE also added a “comprehensive longevity pay system that rewards employees based on years of service to the district,” the news release reads.
The OAPSE union covers around 100 bus drivers, custodians, teacher aids and other classified district employees, according to Chance.
“The leadership of Ashland City Schools appreciates the time and effort the Executive Committee of OAPSE Local #233 displayed during the process and believes our children will ultimately benefit from the contract extension,” the news release reads.
