Cook and custodian contracts OK'd

In two separate votes, Red Wing School Board approved the contracts with the custodians and the school cooks Monday.

The new contracts are for school years 2011-12 and 2012-13. Both the custodial and the food service contract outline reductions to the amount that the school district contributes to health insurance. Supt. Karsten Anderson said those reductions allowed the district to give cost of living adjustment raises.

The food service contract calls for a 2 percent salary increase for both the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years. The custodian contract calls for a 1 percent increase for 2011-12 and a 1.9 percent increase for 2012-13.

Board member Paul Kramp raised concerns about some of the other employee benefits — such as the amount of paid time off — outlined in the contracts, questioning whether those benefits negate any money the district is saving by reducing health insurance contributions.

“Is there any consideration for all these other fringes in this contract?” he asked.

Supt. Anderson said none of those other benefits had been up for consideration during negotiations.

“You can’t go into labor negotiations thinking that you’re going to come out paying employees less,” Board member Steve Anderson added. “I don’t know if I agree with the idea that you’re going into labor negotiations thinking you’re going to save money.”

The custodial contract was passed with a 7-0 vote. The food service contract passed with a 6-0 vote; Steve Anderson abstained from voting, citing conflict of interest due to personal relationships.

Tags: red wing, school board, education, money