ADAMS TWP — Amy Edwards said she moved to Mars two years ago from Hampton and was pleased to find a familylike atmosphere among all the levels of Mars School District staff. She said the staff knows her children, takes care of them and has their best interests at heart.

“When my oldest came to Mars, she was in support for math and reading,” Edwards said. “She needed it one year here, and within one year she was caught up. These staff members are irreplaceable in my opinion.”

Mars School Board accepted the terms of the collective bargaining agreement with the Mars Area Education Support Professionals Association on Tuesday night, bringing to a close more than two years of negotiations.

Many parents were concerned the new contract would force many longtime and beloved employees out of the district.

“I have a vested interest in who's inside this building,” said Jennifer McAfee, parent of two elementary age children. “I ask this school board to do your due diligence.”

The new contract runs from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2020.

School director Steve Boggs voted against it and Rebecca Brown was absent.

The union accepted the board's proposal Aug. 30 just before the Sept. 1 deadline the board put forth in July. If the union did not accept by then, the board said it would subcontract the custodians' positions.

The board's decision did not come without detractors. Several parents spoke during public comment asking the school board to reconsider the agreement that will take away spousal or family health care benefits for employees hired before July 1, 2012.

Employees hired after July 1, 2012 were not eligible for anything other than individual coverage based on the terms of the last contract, said attorney Tom Breth, the district's chief negotiator.

The new contract, however, raises the starting wage and gives employees bonuses, he said.

Breth provided background on the history of the negotiations between the school and union which covers custodians, paraprofessionals and secretaries. Negotiations began January 2015. In July 2016, the board received bids on subcontracting the three classifications within the union and could have seen a cost savings of about $1.8 million, Breth said. But the board continued to negotiate in good faith.

After the ultimatum was given in July, Breth said there were two more negotiating sessions. “If the board gave the association its final best offer, the association agreed to take that back to their membership for a vote,” he said.

In the board's final best proposal dated Aug. 22, employees will receive a $1,000 bonus for each of the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years and a 50-cent-per-hour raise in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years. Employees will get a 35-cent raise in the 2019-20 school year.

The starting hourly rate for all classifications was also increased. In 2017-18, secretaries and paraprofessionals will start at $11 and custodians will start at $10.50. Effective July 1, 2017, the job classification of maintenance worker is established.

Employees who work second or third shift will be paid a shift differential of 35 cents per hour for second shift and 40 cents per hour for third shift.

Dayle Ferguson, school board president, said the new contract is fiscally sustainable, allows for expanded operational flexibility, and establishes a competitive compensation framework for current and future staff. “With compromise made by both parties, the net outcome is a fair and reasonable deal that benefits our employees, the school district and the taxpayers,” she said.