School board, union agree to extend pact

By Jordan Cohen

The superintendent considers moving football to Saturdays this fall.

VIENNA — Mathews Board of Education and Local 611 of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees have agreed to a two-month extension of their contract for nonteaching employees.

The pact would have expired Monday.

OAPSE represents 43 cafeteria workers, bus drivers, secretaries, maintenance and custodial workers. The extension, which expires Aug. 31, includes provisions for medical coverage and retroactivity to July 1 if hourly wages are increased.

At the same time, negotiations continue with the Mathews Education Association, which represents 67 teachers. Their contract expires Aug. 24. Both sides have declined to comment on progress in their talks.

In another matter, Superintendent Lee Seiple said he will know by mid-July if high school football games will have to be scheduled for Saturday afternoons instead of the usual Friday evenings because of problems with field lights.

A transformer that powers some of the lights is no longer functioning, and Seiple said a replacement will cost more than $23,800.

The problem, the superintendent said, is whether the district should spend the money in light of a capital improvements program it plans to place before the voters in the 2009 primary election.

“We need to know if the transformer is mobile and can be moved, should the capital improvements plan require construction of a new stadium,” Seiple said. “There’s no point in spending that money if the transformer isn’t mobile. If it isn’t, then I’ll have to change the games to Saturday afternoons.”

Seiple emphasized that no decision has been made yet on a stadium or any new facilities to be put to the voters, but indicated new school construction will be part of the presentation. The board plans to have several community meetings to discuss building options.