Cost cutting at White Pigeon schools

The White Pigeon Board of Education has agreed to one-year contract extensions with the district leadership team and administrative team members for the 2009-10 school year.

According to a news release from Ron Drzewicki, superintendent of the White Pigeon Community Schools, the contract extensions call for a freeze on all wages and benefits. The district paraprofessionals, secretaries, and food service employees also agreed to a pay and benefit freeze for the 2009-10 school year.

This past spring, the Board of Education agreed to a three-year contract extension with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) representing the district’s bus drivers and custodians. The contract calls for a two-year wage and benefit freeze with a wage and benefit re-opener for the 2011-12 school year.

To help the district financially, White Pigeon’s administrators, directors, custodians, and secretaries switched insurance carriers last fall. The new insurance program is a Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) major medical plan with employer self-funded dental and vision. The district saved approximately $42,500 last year because of the insurance change. This amounts to a $2,600 per employee savings over a nine-month period.

The news release says, “The school district appreciates the cooperation of the administrative and support staff in helping to balance the school budget. The insurance concessions saved the district dollars and kept insurance cost increases contained.”