The Jordan-Elbridge Central School District and the district bus drivers have yet to resolve a 9-month contract conflict, and will meet again with mediators to try and find a solution on March 31.
“Well, really nothing has changed,” said Marilyn Dominick, Superintendent of Schools.
The primary issue revolves around health care. District drivers previously received below-average wages, but were offered extensive health care. When the contract expired on June 30, 2007, and new contract negotiations began, the district wanted to raise drivers’ wages but eliminate the health care benefit. Drivers would be expected to buy their own health care, an expense to be supplemented by the increased wages.
Offering drivers a higher wage could increase the amount of state aid the district would receive. Dominick has maintained that neither she nor the district are looking to contract drivers outside the district.
