The Fort Dodge Community School District has reached agreements with two of its employee bargaining units.

The FDCSD board unanimously approved the ratification of agreements between the maintenance employees bargaining unit — custodial maintenance, and the maintenance employees bargaining unit — bus drivers division, at its meeting Monday night.

The district’s agreement with the MEBU — custodial maintenance is for two years and includes a 38 cent increase in hourly wage and 1.97 percent increase in total package incentives.

The district’s agreement with the MEBU — bus drivers division is for three years and includes a 40 cent increase in hourly wage and a 2.26 percent increase in total package incentives.

Iowa law states that public employee unions are only allowed to negotiate base wages.

Health insurance, vacation time, evaluation procedures, seniority-related benefits cannot be part of union contracts.

“We received a 1 percent increase in funding from the state of Iowa, which creates a challenge for us,” Rob Hughes, FDCSD assistant superintendent said. “But we always try to give fair and equitable support for our staff.”

He added, “The bus drivers settled for three years and included dollars, so we know exactly where we will be with our budgeting for the next three years.”

Lisa Shimkat, FDCSD board member, added that the district does not provide health insurance to bus drivers.

For custodial maintenance, the discussion on base wage will reopen next year, Hughes said.

Doug Van Zyl, FDCSD superintendent added, “With what the state did, now you have to recertify your association group every year, but by agreeing to a multiyear contract, you don’t have to certify every year. Because insurance is off the table, more people are willing to do longer so they don’t have to recertify.”

Hughes reported that the paraeducators bargaining unit has ratified through their group and that agreement will be presented at the next regular board meeting.

He said the secretaries bargaining unit voted on their ratification Monday and the teachers bargaining unit is working through the date for their ratification.