Union in Niles schools ratifies contract

By Jordan Cohen | November 1, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

NILES

A union representing 105 nonteaching employees has ratified a tentative contract with the school district.

The Niles school board will vote on the pact at a special meeting Wednesday.

“I will recommend that the board approve the agreement,” Mark Robinson, school superintendent, said.

The union, Local 305 of Ohio Association of Public School Employees, represents the district’s maintenance and cafeteria workers, bus drivers, secretaries and administrative assistants.

Debbie Simini, union president, said she would not discuss any provisions of the contract, including its length, until after the board vote.

If the board also ratifies the agreement, it would be retroactive to Sept. 1 of this year.

Simini said the union’s previous contract expired Aug. 31, and the local continued to work under the old agreement while negotiations continued.

Robinson, who also would not divulge details about the OAPSE contract, said that after the vote, he will meet with the board in executive session to discuss ongoing talks with the district’s teachers, whose contract expired Aug. 28.