Garnet Valley OKs five-year extension with teachers union
CONCORD » The Garnet Valley School Board approved a fiveyear extension with the 396-member Garnet Valley Education Association with an 8-0 vote, with one board member not attending. The agreement reached in informal talks includes a 2.86 percent annual average increase in compensation inclusive of salaries and increases in health insurance premium sharing.
“We are extremely pleased that we’ve reached this agreement,” said board member Scott Mayer, who participated in the contract meetings with administration and teachers union representatives.
“We feel that the extension strikes a balance between our responsibility to our taxpayers and our commitment to negotiate a fair contract with our teachers. We grappled with a lot of issues, and it was a pleasure to work with the association.”
The terms of the agreement add five years to the existing contract lasting through June 2019, bringing the end date of June 2024. The parties have referred to this development as “six years of peace.” Not lost in the process was the prior contract negotiation of 18 months which created a level of tension for the entire school community.
Union President Rob Guidetti said Superintendent Marc Bertrando approached the organization with the idea of informal negotiations which is trending.
“We had four meetings — talked, collaborated and got it done. I use the word ‘collaboration’ a lot, which is the way it should be. We needed both parties to trust each other, and trust is another big concept for us,” said Guidetti, a teacher at Bethel Springs Elementary School. “Our job is to teach, and that’s difficult when distracted.”
Over the duration of the agreement, starting teacher salaries rise from $47,600 to $51,549. Teachers at the highest point of the pay scale will see an increase from $100,150 to $107,025 by 2024. The contract ties these increases to concessions to health care where employees will share 22 percent of costs or opt for a less-expensive plan.
“The board is acutely aware of the importance of our community’s ongoing support for education and the burden they shoulder by paying property tax,” said school board President Rosemary Fiumara, adding appreciation for the union “team in place.”
Overall funding will come from property tax increases staying within the Act 1 index (assuming approximately 2.4 percent annually.) It also factors in tax revenue generated by new commercial and residential development which remains strong in the district’s communities.
Members of the union negotiating team and several teachers were on hand in the meeting to enjoy the culmination of the process. Guidetti observed he was particularly pleased that board and teachers had several moments of sharing congratulations at the meeting’s end.
“I would say to the board I hope this is the new normal,” said Bertrando.” It didn’t take 18 months and didn’t have any disruption. We can continue open conversations and a share perspective. There is no reason we can’t sit down together. We proved we can.”
In a somewhat related matter, the board approved a contract with SwiftMD for telemedicine services at a total first-year cost of $25,186. The service will cost $3.60 per covered member per month, but there will be no additional direct charge to employees.
Business Director Chris Wilson said this service provides certain kinds of applications, but is not intended to replace an individual’s regular health care procedures or certainly emergency matters. In vetting the service, Wilson said other districts reported as much as a six-figure savings in health care costs.