Tentative contract reached

The union is expected to issue a statement on the pact today.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- The nonteaching staff and the board of education reached a tentative contract agreement, just days before the district is to submit a financial recovery plan.
"We reached a tentative agreement ... shortly before midnight" with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 365, Superintendent Patrick N. Guliano said.
Details of the pact were not immediately available, but OAPSE representatives were expected to issue a statement later today. Jim Rabbits, a field representative with OAPSE in Columbus, could not be reached to comment.
Monday's meeting was the third this month between the two sides, who have been at an impasse since last fall. The latest round of talks took place just days before a Friday deadline set by the Ohio Department of Education for the district to submit a financial recovery plan.
Granted extension
The ODE granted a 30-day extension last month to Niles City Schools, primarily because of the ongoing negotiations between the board and the 122-member union, which represents nonteaching staff at the schools.
The union -- comprised of bus drivers, secretaries, cafeteria workers and more -- has been working under the terms of the previous contract, which expired last year. The two sides have been meeting with a federal mediator since last fall.
Sticking points in the negotiations were health care insurance and maintaining staffing levels.
Once the district's plan is submitted, state officials will determine whether to keep the district in fiscal watch, release it from that status, or place it in fiscal emergency.
Schools praised
A recent performance audit released by state Auditor Betty Montgomery's office praised the city schools for steps already taken to reduce debt.
Moves to save money include the closing of Garfield Elementary, reducing staffing through attrition and eliminating certain substitute positions, overtime, cell phones and nonmandatory field trips.
One suggestion from the audit was for school officials to work with the OAPSE union to remove the "no-reduction-in-force" clause from the contract.
slshaulis@vindy.com