SF Board Approves Teachers' Contract

The Spring-Ford Area School District met for a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday night to approve mediator's recommendation for the teachers' contract.

The contract, which was approved unanimously, is a two-year deal (2011-12 and 2012-13) with a salary schedule that has a horizontal and vertical movement freeze from 2011 until the middle of the 2012-13 school year. Then, according to the recommendation, there would be "step movement (one-half of the total step movement that is estimated to be $750,000) plus $1,500 per Bargaining Unit Employee at maximum as of June 30, 2012, that will go into base salaries (approximately $180,000)."

Also according to the recommendation, tuition reimbursement would continue in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement for all Bargaining Unit Employees "who have not yet achieved a master's degree." For those who have, the recommendation said, there will be no entitlement to tuition reimbursement for the life of the two-year deal.

"The PSEA UniServe Representative and Local Association President shall meet with the Director of Human Resources within 15 workdays following the issuance of the Mediator's Proposal for the purposes of developing transitional rules for those Bargaining Unit Employees who are in the middle of the tuition reimbursement process or in the middle of obtaining a degree in a degree program," the recommendation said. "Should the PSEA UniServ Representative and Local Association President and the Director of Human Resources not finalize transitional rules within 25 workdays following the issuance of this Mediator's Proposal, the Mediator will intervene and issue a recommendation on transitional rules in writing to all parties."

There will also be no involuntary furloughs or demotions beyond those furlough and/or demotions that have already occurred for 2011-12. Disciplinary demotions and terminations are still not out of the question, according to the recommendation. However, furloughs and/or demotions in 2012-13 could occur.

The recommendation spans 12 pages. Board member Clara Gudolonis returned to her first meeting since September, while David Shafer was not in attendance. Student representative Elizabeth Brady was also absent.

Board member Bernard Pettit, along with the rest of the board, gave praise to Director of Human Resources Beth Leiss.

"I just want to express our appreciation for the hard work and effort put in by Beth Leiss, who worked very closely with our counsel in helping make this happen," Pettit said. "So, thank you very much Beth. I know I speak for our entire board."

A copy of the recommendation is available for the public to obtain through Leiss at the district office.

Check back with Patch throughout the day on Thursday for an update from Superintendent David Goodin and Board President Tom DiBello.