EMMAUS, Pa. — East Penn School Board on Monday approved a new teachers contract after a contentious meeting with the teachers’ union in July.
Monday’s board meeting was sparsely attended compared with the July 8 meeting, which saw more than 100 members and supporters of the teachers union voice opposition to the latest collective bargaining agreement.
However, board members quickly approved the agreement with the East Penn Education Association, with only a few comments on the extensive work that led to a consensus.
Board President Joshua A. Levinson said he and his colleagues were pleased “we achieved the goals that we set out to do from the outset back in January, which is to come together and create a fair competitive and equitable agreement.”
“And so again, I am grateful for the efforts of my colleagues who are on the negotiations team and from the board, Mr. Felegy and Mr. Smith, in addition to our key administrators; I would also like to express my appreciation for the efforts of the association itself, for the time that they spent and for having substantive discussions to come together and again, create a contract that's going to serve the needs of the district for the next four years."East Penn School District Board President Dr. Joshua A. Levinson
Levinson said that after the packed July 8 meeting, discussion continued until they reached an agreement this month.
“The two sides worked together to come up with a final draft of the contract, which the association approved last week, and then made it in time for the board tonight for our unanimous vote,” Levinson said.
While salary increases were a point of contention at the July meeting — proposed salary increases for the next four years were originally set at 4.25%, 3.75%, 3.75% and 3.5% — a compromise was reached.
According to the agreement’s salary schedule, a union member with permanent certification would at step one be paid $64,000 a year in 2024-25; $67,000 in 2025-26; $67,500 in 2026-27; and $69,500 in 2027-28.
Increases in the previous agreement were described by Levinson as “historically high,” though Union Chief Negotiator Chris Ritter, an Emmaus High School math teacher, said his association’s own proposal could provide more competitive compensation without stressing the district’s budget.
Expressions of thanks
Board Vice President Adam Smith commended Levinson and board member Michael Felegy “for their many long evenings sharing their perspectives as we worked to craft this agreement.”
“This agreement represents a substantial amount of hard work and challenging conversations on both sides," Smith said. "We are lucky to have here in East Penn the teaching staff that we have.
“I'm pleased to share that I believe that this agreement generously recognizes their efforts and the support of our kids. So I'd like to thank all of our teachers for the work they do every day.”East Penn School Board Vice President Adam Smith
"And research shows that the single largest driver of positive student learning outcomes is the collective teacher efficacy and the ability of teachers to hone their craft, continue to improve their craft, and work towards the needs of students.
“I'm pleased to share that I believe that this agreement generously recognizes their efforts and the support of our kids. So I'd like to thank all of our teachers for the work they do every day.”
Board member Timothy Kelly said he was proud of the district’s teachers and expressed hope the new contract “helps them see the value that we hold for them.”
Board member Shonta Ford thanked her colleagues and the union for the extensive work to reach the agreement, as well as the community as a whole for their patience.
“And just to remind everyone — board members, community members, teachers and the like, that we remain in this boat together," Ford said.
"And as a board we love our teachers and support our teachers and what's best for the students in the community, and that will remain the same. So thank you."
Other board members expressed similar sentiments, including William Whitney, who described the agreement as something that was as “fair and equitable as the resources that we have allow us to put forth.”
