Bangor school panel OKs teacher contracts

BANGOR – The school committee on Monday unanimously approved three-year contracts for teachers and support staff.

Both groups, which are represented by the Bangor Education Association, had been working without contracts since last year.

Under their newly ratified contract, the approximately 370 teachers will receive a 9 percent salary increase over three years, chief negotiator Cyndy Fish said Monday.

Also according to the contract, teachers will pay 15 percent of the health care costs for their dependents this year, 18 percent next year and 20 percent the third year. They had been paying 13 percent of those costs.

The support staff members, numbering about 90, who are represented by BEA will receive a 3.5 percent salary increase this year, 3 percent next year and 3 percent the year after according to the new contract, chief negotiator Joe Murphy said Monday.

Support staff consists of custodians, food service and maintenance workers and secretaries.

They will continue to pay 20 percent of their health insurance costs, Murphy said.