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Canfield schools, bus drivers at odds on dental coverage
By ROBERT CONNELLY
CANFIELD
Contract talks between Canfield schools and its bus drivers are contentious over dental coverage.
The Canfield school district accepted a factfinder’s report last week at its board-of-education meeting, but the Canfield School Bus Drivers Association rejected it.
A hearing on the matter between both parties took place Dec. 15, 2014. The current contract expired June 28, 2014, and drivers have been working under those conditions while negotiating a new deal. There are about 16 bus drivers who work 3.5 hours a day.
The union asked for the return of dental coverage, something it contends had been promised to be returned if a school levy passed. The factfinder said that since that verbal agreement wasn’t in writing, it could not be enforced. But the factfinder ruled that if a driver used the Mahoning County Schools Employee Insurance Consortium, that person should receive a credit of $200.
Drivers also argued to be eligible for an opt-out bonus from the district’s medical coverage. They argued for a higher bonus than other employees of $1,700. The factfinder ruled that it should increase to $1,400.
There was another section regarding additional work time. The factfinder ruled drivers affected by soon-to-start construction projects should log how much extra time they have to work due to delays. School officials have been worried about planned road work on Gibson Road as well as the U.S. Route 224/state Route 11 construction.
At last week’s board meeting, Superintendent Alex Geordan did not talk specifics of the negotiations with the bus drivers, but talked broadly about the process. “We think it’s been very much open dialogue,” he said. “It’s not something where we lock them out. ... They’re continuing to work.”