Three-year teacher pact reached
COLLEGEVILLE >> The Perkiomen Valley School District Board of Directors has reached a three-year agreement with the district’s teachers union that provides cumulative raises of nearly 9.5 percent, it was announced Wednesday.
The union, the Perkiomen Valley Education Association, approved the agreement Oct. 11, and the agreement was ratified by the school board on Oct. 14.
The new three-year agreement will last through the 2021-22 school year and will be retroactive to Aug. 25, when the previous agreement expired.
The contract includes salary increases of 2.6 percent in the first year, 3.18 percent in the second year, and 3.67 percent in the final year. Along with annual increases, the contract includes significant changes to salaries for cocurricular positions (such as coaches and club advisors), according to a news release issued by the district administration.
Teachers are not required to increase their contributions toward the most commonly used health insurance plan during the first year of the contract, however contributions will increase from 18 percent in year one to 19 percent in years two and three.
If employees select a plan with a higher cost than the standard plan, they must pay the difference in premium costs. A fourth insurance plan that includes a high deductible was also added as an option.
Cost control provisions were added to the prescription drug benefits. The contract also includes adjustments in the areas of life insurance, retirement payments, graduate coursework, and teacher leave.
The Board of Directors and PVEA have been negotiating since January and teachers have been working under the terms of the previous contract as this agreement was finalized.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with our teachers’ association that is fair to both teachers and taxpayers,” School Board President Judy Lofton,” said in the prepared statement. “The contract strikes the right balance as we strive to be fiscally responsible while also being able to attract and retain talented and qualified teachers for our school district.”
“We are appreciative of the hard work that has gone into developing this contract and are satisfied that it meets the interests of our teachers,” said Bill McGill, PVEA President. “With the contract settled, we can turn our full attention to the work of educating students and preparing them for the future.”