NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- The School Committee Tuesday night approved an agreement with the North Kingstown Education Support Professionals, the union representing teaching assistants, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers and clerks and other employees. The 180-member union voted to ratify the agreement earlier in the day.
The school department estimated the contract will save about $1.7 million through 2015. Much of the savings would come through increasing employee co-shares for health care costs to 15 percent from 4 percent, and converting nine full-time employees into 18 part-time employees.
The contract does not deal with the most contentious issue, the outsourcing of 26 custodians. The union has appealed that action before the Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board.