School Board Moves Forward with Contract Negotiations

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

The West Chester Area School Board last night approved a series of goals which will guide it through the negotiation process with the West Chester Area Education Association, the union which represents the District’s teachers.

Recognizing the importance of developing a contract which balances the need for affordability with its commitment to sustaining the delivery of a high quality academic program, the School Board has started to refer to the contract it is negotiating as “A Blueprint for Balancing Achievement and Affordability.”

The School Board’s negotiation goals for developing this blueprint, approved in a 9-0 vote, are as follows: 

• Maintain the integrity of our programs by directing limited resources toward academic priorities.

• Retain the District’s ability to make essential decisions to ensure optimal delivery of our services.

• Implement market-driven health care benefits that reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

• Develop a salary and compensation program responsive to economic indicators and to the challenges of the community that funds it.

• Improve productivity and achievement through staff development, teacher accessibility and innovative and flexible approaches to educational delivery.

The District has created a “Negotiation Updates” section of the website at www.wcasd.net, where progress on key milestones will be provided.

The next negotiating session is scheduled for Thursday, March 29.

“We are entering this session with the sincere hope that the West Chester Area Education Association will support these established goals and work with us to develop a blueprint that will serve our students now and in years to come,” stressed School Board President Vincent Murphy.