The Bay County School Board moved forward with the B-E-S-P-A contract at Tuesday afternoon's meeting. After mediation, both parties were able to reach an agreement.

Board members approved the contract Tuesday and approved the revised salary schedule to go along with the changes which are pending union ratification. The contract includes three furlough days for B-E-S-P-A employees which will match the furloughs that administrators and teachers have already to take.

Bay Co. School Superintendent Bill Husfelt says under the approved deal, union members will be guaranteed employment until June 5th, when the contracts will be re-examined. "I think that common sense prevailed and that they got some of the things they wanted and we were fine with that. I don't want to let anybody forget that they sacrificed 3 days of pay just like the teachers did."

B-E-S-P-A represents between 600 and 800 non-instructional employees. The projected savings to the district with the contract will be about $250,000.