Parkland School District support personnel have agreed to take a pay freeze for the 2013-14 school year.

District Superintendent Richard Sniscak said, at the July 16 board meeting, teachers and administrators had taken pay freezes in previous years.

"Now it's their turn," Sniscak said.

The support staff of 600 employees includes bus drivers, hall monitors, teaching assistants, paraprofessionals and workers in maintenance, cafeteria, secretarial and custodial positions.

Their organization, a union led by President Brian Everett, is known as the Parkland Education Support Professionals Association or PESPA.

The school board granted unanimous approval to a three-year contract with PESPA that will provide a 2.5-percent salary increase after the first year.

Medical benefits remain frozen for 2013-14. The following year, support staff will pay $10 for single coverage of health benefits and $20 for a family per pay period, 26 times a year.

The amounts will increase in 2015-16 to $15 for single and $30 for family coverage.

The contributions are similar to those in the teachers' contract ratified a year ago.

In the past, support staff did not contribute toward health benefits.

Board members voted 8-0 to approve the contract. Barry Long was absent.

Sniscak offered comments on the matter.

"Both parties conducted themselves in a professional collaborative manner throughout these negotiations," Sniscak said. "I believe the end result is a fair contract that is fiscally responsible, while rewarding our employees for their skills and dedication to the important and varied roles they play in school district operations."