GIRARD — For the first time in history, Girard city school officials have approved a shared services agreement with neighboring Liberty schools to share a bus mechanic.

The Girard Board of Education met in special session Monday to give its approval with members saying that the Liberty board also is scheduled to meet this week and give their approval for the agreement.

Girard has a chief bus mechanic/bus driver position at $35 per hour for an annual salary of $72,800, which will be split evenly between the two districts. Officials said Liberty was in need of a bus mechanic and approached Girard about the shared services agreement.

The one-year agreement is effective July 1 to June 30, 2027.

“This is a new avenue for us having a shared services agreement with another school district,” said Girard Superintendent Bryan O’Hara.

He said the bus mechanic also helps as a bus driver.

Girard Schools Treasurer Maureen Lloyd said the shared services agreement will save the district between $10,000 and $20,000. Board member Scott Strain said the shared services agreement is a good idea to benefit both school districts. The board approved an agreement with American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees Local 425 to hire Jarrett Len as the chief bus mechanic/ bus driver.

PERSONNEL MATTERS

In other business, the board met in executive session to discuss personnel but said there would be no action taken afterwards,

Last week, the board voted 3-2 to cut three teaching positions for the 2026-27 year, which included a third-grade teacher, a music teacher and an intervention specialist.

The board also voted 2-2-1 on cutting a fourth teacher, who also was an intervention specialist, but because of a tie vote and one abstaining vote, the motion failed so that position was not cut for next year.

Board members said last week there would be discussion to bring one of the teaching positions back, but no action was taken at the meeting.

Members of the Girard Education Association voiced their concerns last week about the cuts to the teaching staff and asked if money could be saved elsewhere.

Board members said the cuts were needed because of district finances.

Also last week, the board approved an addendum to O’Hara’s contract through July 2029. Lloyd said O’Hara, who is in the middle of a five-year contract, agreed to a pay freeze for the last three years of the agreement from August 2026 to July 2029, which will save the district $40,000 over three years.

She said O’Hara also agreed to contribute 15% toward his health care and have fewer vacation days.