Service workers for Butler Area district schools are getting a raise thanks to an addendum to the Service Employees International Union contract.

“I’m particularity happy to see the SEIU contract addendum,” superintendent Brian White said. “This will raise the starting rate of that contract to $15 an hour.”

On Monday, April 8, the Butler Area School District board voted unanimously to approve the change in the school’s contract with the union. The addendum also allows the district to offer supplemental pay for SEIU staff members who are willing to drive a school bus as needed.

“We are still struggling on transportation,” White said.

White said the amount for the supplemental pay still needs to be established.

According to the addendum, the changes are retroactively in effect as of April 1. The minimum wage will be $15 per hour for custodians, $17.25 per hour for maintenance workers and $21.25 per hour for specialized maintenance.

Employees already making more than the new base contract wage will receive a $0.28 hourly rate increase.

The school board voted unanimously to award L&D Lawn Service a mowing contract for several school campuses.

“We have so many needs with our grounds people just to get caught up,” White said. “This tends to be a little more cost efficient for us and allows us to focus our efforts on other projects as well.”

L&D Lawn Service will be responsible for the lawn mowing at Northwest, Connoquenessing, Summit, Center Township, McQuistion and Center Avenue elementary schools for a weekly total of $2,380.