Lakewood Schools Extend Union Contract

Lakewood schools and the unions representing  support staff and maintenance and food service workers agreed to extend the employees' salary contracts for two years and freeze base salaries.

The agreement will save the district $200,000 over the next two years and preserve terms of the current contract.

The school board on Monday approved the extension, which runs from August through July 2013, on first reading.

Supeintendent Dr. Joe Madak said the contract extension represents "how best to go forward in our mutual best interests." 

The board vote came after an hour of deliberation in executive session at Monday’s regular meeting at

Over the past three years, school officials have sought ways to shrink spending, and have cut more than $8 million from a budget that neared $70 million in 2008. 

Officials say they expect the district to remain in decent financial shape at least for the 2011-12 school year, although they project to lose about $1.9 million a year in state funding thru 2016.

School official say millions more in state funding may be lost if the state decides to eliminate tangible personal property tax guarantees.