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Unit 3 board accepts HEA contract

<p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1490664889242_2544" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">HARRISBURG -- The Harrisburg Unit 3 School District voted 5-1 to approve a labor contract with the Harrisburg Education Association Monday evening, Superintendent Mike Gauch said.

<p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1490664889242_2653" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">One board member, Jeffrey Drake, abstained. Drake's wife is a teacher.

<p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1490664889242_2654" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">The contract, a 2-year agreement, is retroactive to July 1, 2016, when the previous contract with the union expired.

<p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1490664889242_2655" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">In addition to replacing a so-called "lost step" raise, teachers also fought to retain a benefit of borrowing sick leave from a future school year and inclusion on a health insurance committee for district employees.

<p id="yui_3_16_0_1_1490664889242_2656" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">As an incentive for teachers to approve the contract, the board agreed it would not issue reduction-in-force notices. The board originally anticipated laying off two teachers at the end of the school year.