The Calvert County Board of Education and the Calvert Association of Educational Support Staff (CAESS) are pleased to announce that on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, a tentative agreement was reached on a labor agreement. CAESS represents support employees of Calvert County Public Schools.

The highlights of the tentative agreement include:

§  Longevity increases for all eligible employees beginning July 1, 2010. (Longevity increases – also called Indexes – are when an employee receives an increase in pay because he or she has an additional year of experience in his/her job);

§  Salary compression from Index 21 to Index 19 (Under the new contract, employees will advance one Index each year of employment for 19 years. The rate at which an employee is paid at year 19 will now be equal to the rate an employee in the same job category is paid at Index 21 under the current contract.) Further, employees who are currently at or above Index 21 will receive one additional personal leave day ;

§  An increase in personal leave days;

§  Enhancements to bereavement leave;

§  An adjustment in what employees pay for individual health insurance plans from 8% to 10% of their health insurance premiums, an adjustment in the drug co-pay to $10, and the ability to purchase eyeglass lenses and frames every 12 months. Changes to the health plan are closed for the three-year term of the agreement unless both sides agree to renegotiate this article; and

§  Employees who experience or have a spouse, child or parent who experiences a medically documented incapacitating or catastrophic illness, injury or quarantine may receive up to 70 transferred sick days each school year.

If ratified by the CAESS membership and approved by the Board of Education, most of the articles in the agreement will be in effect for three years. Negotiable articles for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 include salary as well as two additional articles selected by each party.

CAESS will be holding a ratification meeting on June 24, 2010.

If CAESS member ratify the agreement, it will be presented to the Board of Education for consideration and approval.