Board approves Easton teachers contract

Easton Area teachers will get salary increases each of the next three years.

School board members on Tuesday approved a contract with the district’s teachers union, which represents 581 teachers, guidance counselors, librarians, nurses and school psychologists. The three-year contract calls for step movements and an additional $1,000 for employees each year. It goes into effect July 1.

Employees’ share of health insurance premiums will increase $120 in the first year.

Easton Area Education Association members approved the agreement June 5. Board members voted unanimously for the agreement. Jodi Hess, whose husband works for the district, abstained. Board member Tina Rosado was absent.

Easton Area Education Association President Kevin Deely thanked the administrative team for their work.

“We can’t make everybody happy, but I certainly believe we are headed in the right direction,” he said. “We have been able to work very closely together over the last couple years to make sure we are setting the stage to make Easton a really great place.”

The school board in May signed off on a memo of understanding with the union that if at least 11 teachers over 60 years old who worked in the district for at least 10 years retired, union members could receive $200 additional dollars in the second and third year of the contract. But only seven signed up by the deadline, 4 p.m. Tuesday. As part of the agreement, the district will give the retirees $5,000 per year for a health reimbursement account until the retiree becomes eligible for Medicare.

The district’s budget for 2019-2020 calls for the district to hire nine new teachers.

Morning Call reporter Michelle Merlin can be reached at 610-820-6533 or at mmerlin @mcall.com.