School board OKs deal with para-professionals

The Havre school board has ratified a new contract with the union representing the district paraprofessional employees.

The two-year contract calls for a new method of providing salary increases to the employees, who used to be called classroom aides, said Superintendent Andy Carlson. Under previous contract, he said, employees got pay increases based on longevity.

The new contract calls for increases based on professional development programs the employees undertake.

For instance, he said, some employees are taking courses to help them in their jobs, he said.

Present employees will have the option of working under the old system of getting longevity increases, he said. But people hired after July 1 will fall under the new system.

But Carlson said he understands that many current employees want to switch over to the new plan.

The contract will mean increases for most employees, he said.

Under the old plan, Havre employees were among the lowest paid of Montana’s Class A schools, he said. The new contract will raise them to about the midway point in Class A, he said.

“We wanted to increase what we were paying these folks,” he said. “They are very vital to us.”

The board also accepted the resignation of Jay Pyette as an English and drama teacher, and Thomas Baty as a music teacher and choral director.

Carlson praised both for their contributions to the district.

Over his 20 years with the district, Pyette has built up the theater program, he said. Pyette will now turn his full-time attention to Montana Actors’ Theatre, Carlson said.

Pyette had been involved in more than 150 productions in his 20 year at the school, according to Carlson.

Pyette also served as a Havre city councilman.

Baty is taking a similar position in the Helena school district, he said.

Going to a bigger school will be a career advancement for him, Carlson said.