Hermitage School Board extended the contract with its support staff on Monday, even though the contract would have extended automatically anyway.

That didn't stop Jim Lumpp from voting against the extension.

The Hermitage Educational Support Staff Association represents about 100 teacher aides and cafeteria and maintenance employees. The four-year pact expired June 30.

The extension continues until a new contract is reached or HESPA says it will not work under the extension.

The board responded to a letter from the Pennsylvania State Education Association, of which HESPA is affiliated, stating the union will continue to work under the terms of the expired contract as long as good-faith bargaining continues.

The two sides started negotiating in January and about four or five meetings have been held on language issues between HESPA and administrators, while the board has met with the union four or five times to discuss financial issues.

The last meeting was in June and no new date has been set, which prompted Lumpp's no vote. The union was supposed to contact the board about a new bargaining session.

"Why extend the contract at all when they haven't been negotiating?" he said.

Superintendent Karen A. Ionta said vacations held up setting a new date, and she expects a session to be scheduled soon.

"They've indicated to us they're going to start negotiating," said board President Duane J. Piccirilli.