New Kensington-Arnold School District and its teachers union have agreed on a new contract that will increase teachers’ pay and have them paying more gradually for healthcare.
School directors voted 8-0 to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the district and the New Kensington-Arnold Education Association. Board member Tim Beckes was absent.
“We’re very pleased to be able to enter into an early-bird agreement with the district,” said Morgan Lewis, association president. “We couldn’t have asked for a better situation right now.”
The current contract, ends Aug. 31 of this year. The new five-year contract is effective next school year.
Business Manager Jeff McVey said the agreement calls for an average 3.5% salary increase each year.
The starting salary next school year for a first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree will be $53,969, up from $52,153 this school year.
Teachers will continue to contribute 12% for their monthly health care premium until the third and fourth year of the contract, where it increases to 12.5% and to 13% in the fifth year of the contract. The monthly increase will not exceed $28, McVey said.
The association represents 163 employees in the district.
McVey said the agreement is the first early-bird contract in New Kensington-Arnold since 1984.
“I am so pleased that the administration and the union were able to come to an agreement together,” said School Board Member Terry Schrock. “Very hard work, but it was very collegial.”
“Thank you to the administration, and thank you to the teachers and the group that did the negotiating for the teachers’ union.”