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Batavia school support workers concede on benefits to save jobs

The Batavia Educational Support Personnel Association has agreed to a benefits concession in exchange for keeping nearly 30 jobs.

The Batavia school board approved the measure Tuesday night.

BESPA represents about 110 full- and part-time employees, including classroom aides, special education assistants, school secretaries, nurses, custodians, maintenance workers and delivery drivers.

The agreement prohibits the board from reducing the staff by more than the equivalent of 22 full-time workers. Earlier this year, school officials said they might have to lay off the equivalent of 50 workers. However, it expected it would have to call many workers back to provide mandated services; the number depends on how many students enroll and what they need.

In exchange, the union agreed to rebate $150,000 from its health insurance fund to the district. That figure is equivalent to the amount the district would have saved if it had frozen the salary and benefits of the workers. The Batavia Education Association, which represents teachers and other certified workers, struck a similar deal in March.

The pact is part of the district's effort to lessen a projected budget deficit for the 2010-11 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

BESPA's five-year contract ends June 30, 2012.

Denise Teepe-Ott, union president, said the union agreed to the concession "to do as much as we can for the children."

The board did release 21 full-time and six part-time workers Tuesday. But school officials expect many of them to be recalled for next school year.

The board is still negotiating the annual contracts of exempt personnel, including administrators and the superintendent.