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Schools

School Board Unanimously Approves Teacher Pay Freeze

Last night's meeting moved to cafeteria due to overflow crowds.

East Penn school directors unanimously approved a deal with the teachers union Monday night that would freeze teacher salaries for next year.

Under the terms of the deal, teachers will accept a pay freeze for the 2011-2012 school year. Base salaries will also remain the same for the 2012-2013 school year, with eligible teachers receiving raises based on service credits.

The agreement extends the teachers’ contract by two years. Salaries in 2013-2014 will be what they would have been in in 2011-2012 under the previous contract.

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Salaries in 2014-2015 would match those previously set for 2012-2013.

Superintendent Thomas L. Seidenberger estimated the concessions would be worth about $2.1 million in 2011-2012 and would have a “significant impact” on next year’s budget and “would go a long way” toward lowering a potential tax increase. The district has been looking for ways to deal with the loss of about $2 million in state subsidies.

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Seidenberger said second-year concessions would amount to about $875,000.

However, he stressed that the figures are preliminary and the administration is not finished adjusting the  budget plan.

Maintenance workers with the Teamsters Union also agreed to a pay freeze next year and limited raises in 2012-2013. Teamsters would receive 3.4 percent increases in each of the following three years.  Their contract was also extended by two years.

The start of Monday’s meeting was delayed because an overflow crowd necessitated moving the venue from the board’s meeting room in downstairs to the school cafeteria.

Most directors who commented praised the teachers union for the compromise.

“They did not have to do this,” said Board President Charles Ballard of the teachers. “They were entitled to a raise.”

Director Samuel Rhodes III thanked both bargaining units. “I and the [other] taxpayers are in your debt,” he said.

Director Allen Earnshaw said, at the risk of sounding “like a broken record,” he wanted to thank both the teachers and Teamsters.

Director Julian Stolz said he had “mixed feelings” about the contract. “I’m glad to hear about the tax benefit, but don’t want to tie the hands” of a future board to renegotiate. His motion for a 20-day review of the proposal died without a second. When asked for his vote on the new contract Stolz paused for a few seconds and said “aye.”

Director Earnshaw took  issue with Stolz for what he characterized as “misinformation” he said has been spread about the teacher’s deal in public forums.

He said Stolz should have participated in the negotiations and he would know more about them if he had, spurring applause from the large audience.

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