New BAS Admin Contract to Save $129,000

December 05, 2011

BAS Administrators voluntarily open contract and the district will save approximately $129,000 as a result.

Belding Area Schools (BAS) administrators voluntarily opened their employee contracts for renegotiation.  The result of the new contracts will save the district approximately $129,000 over a two year period.

The new contract agreements will save about $45,000 during the 2011-12 school year and $84,000 the following school year.  The agreements also make them subject to the new health care laws under Senate Bill 7; requiring schools to pay no more than a $15,000 family coverage hard cap, or enforce an 80/20 split with employees for healthcare costs. BAS administrators are on a healthcare plan that keeps them below the hard cap thus avoiding employee contributions.

“I appreciate the willingness of the administrative team to voluntarily come to the table during a time when school funding is so bleak in the State of Michigan,” said Superintendent Leslie Mount.  “The administrators are already in year three of a pay freeze and last year moved to a new healthcare plan to save district funds.  Their latest actions cut salaries, benefits and conference funds.”

Superintendent Mount’s contact was locked in for a total of three years when she began her position in 2010.  A one year extension was added last year.  No increases have, or will, occur during the contract.  For the 2011-12 school year alone, her total compensation is $40,000 less than the previous superintendent who would have been contracted through the end of this year.  In addition, Mount also went to the new health care plan.

The BAS Board of Education approved the contracts at the board meeting on Monday, November 21.