After what Superintendent Ruth Horne called “a very smooth and productive process,” the Bogalusa City School Board and the union that represents custodians and maintenance and cafeteria workers signed a contract this week that includes a few changes.

The last time the School Board and Local 776, Council 17 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees negotiated a new contract it took about two years for the Board and Union to come to an agreement. This time it took just three months.

In the end, Board President Michael Applewhite, who prompted the negotiations, said, “I think the school system is going to benefit.”

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Half of the changes to the previous agreement, which had been in place since 1994, involve hiring practices. Formerly, the board was required to hire the senior sub-custodian or food service worker if a full-time job became available. Additionally, if a maintenance job came open, the senior custodian would get the position.

“Now, we are free to hire off the street, through applications, for maintenance employees, rather than hiring the senior custodian,” Applewhite said. “It’s based on skills and qualifications.

“And instead of hiring senior sub-custodians, we have a larger pool to choose from. If we have subs that do a good job and can work the hours, we will move them into the position.”

Additionally, in a change that Applewhite said the system needed, custodians can no longer choose where they work.

“It’s not our intention to make wholesale changes just because we have that right,” he said. “We have to have a reason.”

The custodians and maintenance workers did gain some holiday pay.

“Presidents’ Day has been a question for years and years,” Applewhite said. “Now, if the rest of the system gets Presidents’ Day, they do, too. And we’re going to pay them for last Presidents’ Day.”

Local 776 President Walter Morgan said negotiation, by nature, involves “give and take.”

“I am thankful no one is losing their job at this time, and we are looking forward to the new school year,” he said.

Morgan said he was pleased with the cooperative nature of the process.

“It was a smooth transition,” he said. “It wasn’t lengthy. This time we established ground rules and stuck to them. That worked out good for everybody. Everybody got along well.”

Applewhite, a union member at his own workplace, said cooperation, respect and improvement were the major focus.

“The negotiations went real well,” he said. “We explained the changes that were needed and why, some provide security for everybody, and they gave us flexibility to utilize our employees to be more efficient and get more things done.

“I understand that not all of us want change, but sometimes change has to come about to improve conditions. I’ve seen more cooperation this year, from everybody, than I ever have.”

Horne was also happy to see everybody working together for the good of the system and the students.

“Both sides were very receptive to each other’s wants, and both sides communicated openly,” she said. “I truly believe it was this open line of communication that facilitated a fast negotiation and resulted in a new agreement both sides are pleased with.”