School District, Union Extend, Modify Contract

The School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) have extended their contract for one year and have agreed to some modifications in the process.

That means a collective bargaining agreement will last through Aug. 31, 2013. It stipulates that there will be no across-the-board salary increases or changes in benefits for teachers during the 2012-13 school year. (They are, however, scheduled to get a raise this school year.)

In a cost-cutting measure, the PFT and the district have also agreed to restructure payments to the PFT’s Health and Welfare Fund

The extension won't be official until it's approved at an Oct. 26 School Reform Commission meeting.

"This agreement with the PFT represents a significant step towards achieving needed savings for this fiscal year," a statement from the school district read.