Trinity OKs teachers’ contract
Trinity Area School Board approved an early-bird contract with its teachers’ union Monday.
The five-year contract, which the board approved 8-0-1, takes effect in July 2016.
Trinity Area Education Association and its 251 members ratified the pact Dec. 2.
“We are thrilled that we were able to reach an agreement that addresses the needs of the district, the students, the taxpayers and the teachers of the Trinity Area School District,” board president Jennifer Morgan said.
Teachers agreed to a one-year salary freeze for the 2016-17 school year, and overall, teacher salaries will increase at an average rate of approximately 1 percent each year, Superintendent Dr. Michael Lucas said.
The contract also includes early retirement incentives.
Additionally, starting teacher salaries will be reduced by 7.65 percent for the five-year term, so the starting salary in the final year of the contract (2020-21) will be less than the starting salary in 2012-13.
Starting salary for teachers with a master’s degree in 2015-16 is $52,576. In July 2016-17, the starting salary for a teacher with a master’s degree drops to $48,000.
The contract does reward veteran teachers, with a salary bump after three years, the length of time it takes for teachers to attain tenure.
TAEA President Dana Ledger said the association’s members were willing to make some concessions because they wanted to resolve the contract before it expired at the end of the 2015-16 school year.
“Considering the current economic climate, we believe this settlement is fair,” Ledger said.
“The Trinity Area Education Association is pleased to have been able to reach an agreement well before the expiration of our current contract, as this will avoid any disruption in the delivery of the high quality education that our students deserve.”
In addition, employee contributions toward health care insurance premiums will increase by 30 percent.
Lucas praised teachers for making some concessions that reflect the ongoing commitment of the education association and the district to work collaboratively to ensure a quality education for students.
“This early-bird agreement demonstrates the positive working relationship our administrators, school board directors and teachers share. This early agreement allows us to stay focused on our students. I applaud our teachers for supporting a salary pay freeze like our support staff and administrators have done this year. Our employees are making sacrifices to provide Trinity with a better financial future.”
Lucas said that he, along with Assistant Superintendent Donald Snoke, will voluntarily accept a pay freeze in 2016, as they did in 2015.
Director Edmund Trapuzzano, whose wife is a teacher in the school district, abstained from voting.