New BVA contract officially approved

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

After about two years of negotiations, both the Belle Vernon Area Education Association and the Belle Vernon Area School Board ratified a new five-year contract Monday.

“The District and the Association are pleased the negotiations resulted in an agreement which brings stability for the next four years,” the parties said in a joint statement after the vote.

The voting by the union was done electronically, requiring an amendment to the organization’s bylaws. Voting ended just hours before the start of the school board meeting. 

The board vote was contentious, with one board member, Justin Kosanko, announcing beforehand that he would abstain from all contract votes due to financial uncertainty, even though he would have supported the deal under different circumstances.  

Three others said they would vote against all contracts because of the current economic situation.

“We reached a tentative agreement March 12. At that time the economic circumstances were a lot different than they are today,” said Director Dan Kovatch. “The biggest concern I have is, while we can hold the line on taxes this year, what’s going to happen in years three, four and five? We don’t have a three-year projection on the impact of this virus, but we’re being asked to ratify a multi-year contract.”

Director Joel Whiteko said companies in the private sector are asking their employees to take cuts, not just freezing salaries. Whiteko also objected to having to vote on the contract ratification on short notice.

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