Mars Area School Board has voted 7-1 to approve a collective bargaining agreement between Mars Area School District and the Mars Area Education Support Professionals (MAESP) Association.

Board member Steve Boggs cast the dissenting vote. Board member Rebecca Brown was absent.

“This contract is fiscally sustainable and allows for expanding operational flexibility and, best of all, it establishes a competitive compensation framework that values our current staff and will help to attract new employees in the future,” said Dayle Ferguson, Board president. “With the compromises made by both parties, the net outcome is fair and reasonable and benefits our employees, our School District and our taxpayers.”

On Aug. 31, MAESP voted to accept the agreement, which will be retroactive to July 1, 2015, and will continue through June 30, 2020. The contract includes a $1,000 bonus for all eligible support staff for both the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years; a 50-cent increase in pay for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years; and a 35-cent raise for the 2019-2020 School Year.

Once the contract has been finalized, the document will be made available to the public via the “Right to Know/Open Records” request process. For details, click on “Right to Know Requests” under the “Our District” tab on the District’s website, www.marsk12.org, or visit the District’s Administration Office (545 Route 228, Mars, Pa. 16046).

For more information, call (724) 625-1518.