District negotiates 2-year contract with teachers

Salary structure and steps get changes

ELKINS PARK » The Cheltenham School District School Board planned to vote at a special meeting Tuesday to approve a two-year contract with the Cheltenham Educators’ Association (CEA), the district’s teachers union. The contract is retroactive to July 1, 2022, and runs through June 30, 2024.

“I am pleased we came to a mutually beneficial agreement,” said CSD School Board President Pamela Henry. “We’re looking forward to a great start to the 202223 school year and are grateful to have this agreement in place.”

The new contract maintains healthcare and retirement benefits at current rates, but includes changes to the salary structure. Additional “steps” (salary levels) will be added to the salary schedule, and some steps will see increases of 1.75%. The starting salary for new teachers will be $51,500, and in year two of the contract, teachers at the top of the salary schedule will earn $122,636.

The contract includes modifications to the ways in which teachers are scheduled for instructional, planning, and preparation periods. It also includes parameters for collaboration time to discuss student progress, as well as intervention and enrichment periods for targeted, small group in

struction with students.

The new agreement includes increases to the payment teachers receive when they must miss their preparation periods to cover classes and fulfill other school needs. Teachers will be required to enroll in a direct deposit program for payroll, which will lessen district costs. They will also be able to take half sick days, instead of only full sick days.

“This agreement allows for a smooth start for school over the next two years,” said CEA President Jack Kelly. “We reached this pact because of the professionalism and flexibility of both parties and a desire to provide stability during these uncertain times.”

The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) adds $3.19M to the district’s budget over the next two years. The CBA includes nearly 400 members. The Cheltenham School District enrolls almost 4,200 students.