Worthington school board members have approved a new three-year negotiated contract that calls for a 2.85 percent increase to the wage scale in classified employees' salaries.

The board unanimously approved the new contract, after one month of negotiations, in a special meeting held Thursday, Dec. 11, said Treasurer Jeff McCuen.

"It's a three-year contract, with a reopening for wages and insurance in the third year," he said.

McCuen said the employee organization also has changed its name from the Worthington Classified Association to the Worthington Educational Support Professionals, "to better reflect their position in the district and recognize their professional contributions," he said.

McCuen said the raise in salary expenses will be offset somewhat for the district by the employees' agreement to pay higher health insurance premiums.

The classified employees paid 6 percent of the monthly premium under the old contract, or $67.91 a month for a family plan, but will now pay 9 percent, or $107.29 per month. For single employees, the monthly premium went from $25.15 to $39.74.

Deductibles went up, too, from $1,100 for a single employee and $2,200 for family coverage to $1,500 for singles and $3,000 for families.

A significant portion of that deductible will be paid annually by the district, however, into employees' Health Savings Accounts. McCuen said the district used to pay 70 percent of the deductible into employee HSAs but will now pay 67 percent of the deductible the first year and 65 percent in the second year.

McCuen said the new contract is within the boundaries of the latest five-year financial forecast.

"When the board adopted the forecast in October, we had anticipated a certain amount for the negotiated contracts, and will not have to change our five-year financial forecast as a result of this," he said.

Also in October, board members approved a new three-year negotiated contract for certified staff, with the same 2.85 percent increase to the wage scale in teacher's salaries, for each year of the agreement.

On Nov. 10, board members approved a new four-year contract and a 2.75 percent raise in salary for McCuen and Superintendent Melissa Conrath.

Thomas Worthington High School science aide Pam Sturiano is the president of the Worthington Educational Support Professionals.