Lower Merion Teachers, Board Agree On Contract Recommendations

ARDMORE, PA – A new three-year contract for teachers in Lower Merion School District is on the horizon, as the Lower Merion Board of School Directors and the Lower Merion Education Association have now both accepted recommendations from an arbitrator in the ongoing negotiations.

"The Lower Merion Board of School Directors is pleased to announce that the Lower Merion Education Association has agreed to accept the recommendations of the non-binding arbitrator for a new three-year contract, which the Board approved at its meeting Monday night," the district said in a statement Friday. "This contract recognizes and rewards the excellence of our staff and is attentive to the fiscal realities of the District and its taxpayers."

The Final and Best Offer Report, drafted by arbitrator John Skonier, featured contract stipulations that both parties found agreeable.

Professional staff on step 13 of the pay scale will earn a 2 percent pay increase.

All other steps below 13 will not get a pay increase but will be moved up one step after working without a contract for a year. Single step advancement each year continues through the remaining three years of the contract.

As for health care, there is no change in the 2017-2018 year, but in 2018-2019 employee contributions will go up from 2.6 percent to 2.8 percent.

Then in 2019-2020 employees will contribute a percentage of premium based on their applicable salary band. Additional plans will also be offered in the 2019-2020 year.

You can see a summary of the full arbitration report here.

Image via Lower Merion School District