RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board on Monday ratified a three-year contract with the district’s 61 educational technicians that includes pay raises of 2.5 percent for each year of the contract.

The agreement starts July 1 and ends June 30, 2010. Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said the biggest sticking point during negotiations was dependent health care coverage.

The district pays 100 percent of health care insurance premiums for employees, but nothing toward family coverage. That’s unchanged.

The contract includes a slight upgrade in district-offered dental insurance and changed the number of days an employee must be notified of a layoff, from 14 to 30.

The leave process was significantly changed. Employees will still receive 18 paid days per year; however, those days will no longer be designated as sick or personal time.

In other matters, the board met with Hodgkin for about 30 minutes to conduct an informal evaluation in closed session. The official evaluation of the superintendent, as well as when his salary is set and contract extended, takes place in December.

The board also learned of two awards that will be presented to the SAD 43 school health team on June 1 by Maine first lady Karen Baldacci. These are for excellence in the physical environment of the schools and excellence in school climate.

A discussion item for the possibility of increasing the cost of adult or student admittance to fall sporting events will be on the agenda for action at the board’s June 21 board meeting. The price of a ticket is currently $3 for adults and $2 for students.