By HOLLY WAGNER
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
A contract agreement has been reached for about 70 school bus drivers in the Quincy School District.
Myrna McCallister, head of Local 4204 of the Quincy Federation of Support Personnel, said details of the contract could not be released until after she talked with union members today.
The union represents most district bus drivers, except those who work for the Early Childhood and Family Center. Service Employees International Union Local 73 represents them and other ECFC support service employees, including bus riders who assist with passengers, cafeteria workers, family support specialists and custodians. Negotiations on the Local 73 contract is to begin July 29. The teachers contract comes up for renewal next year.
The School Board will vote on the bus drivers contract at its next meeting, set for July 15.
Superintendent Lonny Lemon was involved in the contract negotiations, which required about four formal meetings and several informal sessions. The district also was represented by Assistant Superintendent Christie Dickens, Business Manager Rich Royalty, and board members Tom Dickerson and Glenn Bemis. John Baird is the union negotiator.
"The negotiations went very well," Lemon said. "Considering the bad economic times, (the bus drivers) came to us with some very fair proposals. It was very professional, a positive experience."
The district is trying to make the language in all district contracts consistent.
"There was give-and-take on both parts," McCallister said. "I enjoyed working with Dickerson and Bemis on the contract. Hopefully the district will come together and work together as a team."
The bus drivers' last contract was approved four years ago. At the time, there was discussion of privatizing the bus service. Drivers said such a move would have hurt them, compromised student safety and ended up costing the district more money.
At the time, Dickerson said contract negotiations resulted in $163,000 of pay practice concessions and insurance changes "that made the bus drivers union competitively cost-effective, as compared with the outsourcing bids received."
-- hwagner@whig.com/221-3374
