A new contract between Northampton Area School District and the Northampton Area Education Personnel Association calls for salary increases of 2.3 percent over the duration of the contract.

The NASD School Board voted unanimously at the Sept. 22 meeting to approve the three-year contact, retroactive to July 1 and continuing through June 30, 2017.

The contract covers approximately 150 members of the association that includes district secretaries, instructional assistants and cafeteria and hall monitors. There is a range of salaries.

NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik told The Press after the Sept. 22 meeting that the salary increases are offset by givebacks in the form of increased deductibles and co-pays for health insurance. Not all of the association members receive benefits, he said.

In other business, the board also voted 9-0 to approve a five-year service agreement with Senick Inc., of Bethlehem, for on-call contracting service for emergency excavation and sinkhole repairs, as needed, with rates billable, retroactive from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2019, at George Wolf Elementary School, Bath. School officials said the problem is on the north side of the building.

The board voted 9-0 to approve the resignation of:

· John Davis, social studies teacher, for retirement, effective June 2, 2015, or the last teacher day of the 2014-15 school year; and

· Michele Parise, special education teacher, for retirement, effective June 2, 2015, or the last teacher day of the 2014-15 school year.

The board voted 9-0 to approve leaves of absence for:

· Laura Kovalchick, paid childbearing leave, from on or about Nov. 20, through Jan. 23, 2015, and an unpaid FMLA child rearing leave, with benefits, Jan. 26 through April 23, 2015;

· Katherine Carney, paid childbearing leave on or about Dec. 2 through Jan. 21, 2015, an unpaid FMLA child rearing leave, with benefits, on or about Jan. 22 through April 21, 2015, and unpaid child rearing leave, without benefits, beginning on or about April 22, 2015, through the end of the 2014-15 school year;

· Lee Strohl, an extension to his unpaid FMLA leave of absence, with benefits, beginning Aug. 14 through Sept. 11, and an unpaid leave of absence, with benefits, beginning Sept. 12 through 30; and

· Michael Moser, a FMLA leave of absence, with pay and benefits, paid through use of sick leave, beginning Oct. 1 through 16, and an unpaid FMLA leave of absence, with benefits, beginning Oct. 16 through Jan. 1, 2015.

The board voted 9-0 to approve the hiring of:

· Daniel Snyder, guidance counselor at the middle school, effective on or about Dec. 2 through the end of the 2014-15 school year, at a salary of $49,198, prorated, without benefits.

· Crystal Becker, guidance counselor at the middle school, effective Jan. 16, 2015, for the second semester of the 2014-15 school year at a salary of $49,198, prorated, without benefits and

· A 1:1 associate teacher to support a Northampton student who attends IU-0 at a cost of $34,395.32, paid out of ACCESS funds.

The board voted 9-0 to approve 2014-15 school-year stipends for:

· Patrick Repasky, school psychologist intern, at $5,000, plus compensation for mileage;

· Robyn Ginther, K-12 physical education-health department coordinator, at $3,123;

· AnnMarie Dalton, assistant field hockey coach, $699;

· Andrew Snyder, assistant field hockey coach, $1,717; and

· Robert Marlatt, assistant wrestling coach, $2,968.

The board voted 9-0 to approve:

· Beth Smith added to the NASD Volunteer Master Listing for the 2014-15 school year, at George Wolf Elementary School;

· Ryan Mertz, 19 students and five chaperones to travel to Radio City Music Hall, New York City, Nov. 9, 2014. There is no cost to NASD; and

· Ann Savkova, Shawn Campbell, and 20 Drama Club students to attend the Pennsylvania State Thespian Conference, York, Dec. 4, 5, and 6. The cost to NASD is not to exceed $200.

· A five-year service agreement with Otis Elevator at Moore Elementary School at $2,988 annually ($249 per month), retroactive from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2019; and

· Berkheimer OneSource, Bethlehem, to prepare and mail homestead applications on behalf of NASD in accordance with Act 72 of 2004 and Act 1 of 2006 at a rate of $0.308 each.