School Board Releases Newest Contract Proposal

The following is a press release from the West Chester Area School Board.

Hoping to overcome the gridlock that salary talks have yielded during the last nine months of contract negotiations, the West Chester Area School Board Negotiating Team has introduced a revised proposal which provides each teacher with a $2500 increase in pay over a two-year period. The new plan was presented to the West Chester Area Education Association (WCAEA) this evening during a 2-hour bargaining session.

The newest salary proposal breaks down as follows: 

• For the 2012-2013 school year, eligible teachers will receive pay increases halfway through the year recognizing their education attainment and ALL teachers will receive a one-time payment of $500.

• For the 2013-2014 school year, ALL teachers receive an additional one-time payment of $2,000 with no column movement.

Teachers who receive an “unsatisfactory” rating in any one year will receive no compensation increase.

The School Board’s newest plan actually provides more equitable pay increases that the Union’s current salary proposal.  Their proposal has teachers receiving increase ranging from $1,000 to over $10,000 over the course of the two year contract while the Board proposal guarantees ALL teachers receive $2,500 over the same period.

“By our estimation, teachers at the maximum level of the salary schedule would receive a $1,000 increase in pay over two years if the WCAEA’s proposal were implemented,” explained School Board president Vince Murphy. “All teachers would receive $2,500 with the School Board’s plan. This enables us to put the salary issue to bed and move toward a settlement.”

The WCAEA deliberated over the School Board's salary plan for one hour, but did not pose a counterproposal. The next negotiation session is scheduled for October 10.

For updates on negotiations, visit www.wcasd.k12.pa.us