G-ASD teachers to receive 19 percent raise over five years
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

On a 6-2 vote, the Greencastle- Antrim Board of School Directors approved a five-year contract for the G-A Education Association on Sept. 20. The agreement runs from Sept. 1, 2007 through Aug. 31, 2012. The previous contract expired Aug. 31.

The agreement gives the district's 186 teachers a 3.8 percent raise on the career rate each year. A new component requires teachers to contribute to health insurance premiums for the first time. They will pay five percent this school year, six percent next year, seven percent in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, and eight percent the final year.

The percentage applies to the total cost of the specific insurance plan selected by the employee. It could be single, husband/wife, one parent and one child, one parent and children, or family.

The health benefit plan also switches from the traditional insurance package to a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) from Highmark Blue. Business manager Richard Lipella said the insured would now have a co-pay at each medical visit, which would save the district $125,000. He also said more diagnostic services were covered, and the preventative care would create savings.

Flexible spending accounts are also being introduced. Lipella said a third party administrator would come in to explain the guidelines.

Health-related expenses account for $3.6 million out of the school system's $31 million budget.

Tom Dracz, president of GAEA, was pleased with the outcome.

"We approved it overwhelmingly on Monday. We feel we are now equal to or better than area schools."

He liked the five-year term, the second time it has been offered, because it extends the next contract talks.

"Negotiating can be a stressful situation. Five years can be risky with inflation, but for the most part it's good."

Acting superintendent Greg Hoover said, "Any time both sides think they won something and lost something, it's a fair contract."

Prior to the vote, board member Arnie Jansen, with a second by Charles McClain, moved to recess into executive session to discuss the contract. Jansen, Mc- Clain, Pam Ott, Mike Shindle, Howard Ritchey and Eric Holtzman voted yes to the session. Ron Troskoski and William Thorne voted no. Dan Fisher was not present.

After the 15-minute meeting in another room, the board returned. A Shindle/Troskoski motion to approve the bargaining agreement passed 6-2 with Jansen and Holtzman voting no.

Holtzman said, "I didn't have enough time to review it before the vote."

Board members received an electronic copy of the bargaining agreement Sept. 17. He saw an initial report on the status of negotiations at the previous board meeting, but said it did not include all of the specifics.

Jansen said he "studied the heck out of it" since the previous version did not have any financial details.

"I voted no because I thought

was not in the best interest of the taxpayers. I thought it was a little high," he said.

While he applauded the idea of insurance co-pays, he thought the rates could have been higher. He also preferred a three-year contract.

Salaries

Under the contract, the starting salary for a first-year teacher is now $42,569. By the year 2011- 12 it will be $49, 418. Incremental raises are based on years of experience and additional education attained. A first-year teacher with a Master's Degree will earn $44,549 now and would be hired at $51,716 the fifth year.

A new college graduate hired this year will earn $57,080 the fifth year.

In 2007-2008 a teacher with a Master's Degree and ten years of experience will earn $59,400 and cap out at $76,617 the final year. The district maxes out years-ofexperience at fourteen. From then on raises are based on additional college credits and the 3.8 percent raise in the contract. The district reimburses the employees for three credits every two years if the courses lead to a Master's or a new certification, or are in their field.

The top end of the scale for this contract is a teacher with 14 or more years of experience and 90 credits, including a Master's Degree. That person will be paid $71,279 this year and $82,747 the fifth year.

The contract which ran from 2002-2007 provided a 2.7 percent raise each year.

Board members on the negotiating committee were Dan Fisher, Ron Troskoski and Mike Shindle. G-AEA members were Dracz, Charles Rice, Alison McKissick, Jill Gilbert, and John Root, as well as a number of people representing each of the district's four school buildings. Hoover and Lipella sat in on the meetings.

Other business

The board approved an amendment to School Board Policy No. 904, which prohibits gambling on school property. The change gives the superintendent the authority to approve raffles by booster clubs.

The resignation of Lesli Smith, High School Spanish Teacher, effective Sept. 11, was approved, followed by hiring her replacement, Abby Wishard, effective Sept. 24. She has one year of experience and must pass the PA Praxis exam by the end of the school year.