Compensation Center Of Marple Newtown Teachers' Union Contract Talks

MARPLE-NEWTOWN, PA — The Marple Newtown School District is at risk of losing more and more teachers due to low pay, according to the union representing its teachers.

Teachers in the district earn significantly less than teacher in neighboring districts, the Marple Newtown Education Association says.

The union, which boasts more than 320 members, is hoping a new contract will remedy the apparent pay gap with other nearby districts.

"We just want to make sure people don't lose money they could get," MNEA negotiator and Marple Newtown High School math teacher Mike Snow told Patch.

Snow said a new contract doesn't even need to make pay equal to surrounding districts, just competitive.

The union touted a former MNSD teacher who moved to the Ridley School District who earned more than $64,000 more by making the move thanks to Ridley's teacher pay increase steps.

Each step in the salary matrix represents a teacher's experience.

According to Snow, pay step freezes first started in 2009.

One teacher with 15 years of experience in the district was stuck at step 9 and was shocked to find a new teacher with just five years of experience was hired in the district at step 10.

The step freeze has led to teachers missing out on "significant life changing money," Snow said.

The contract teachers are under now was enacted two years ago and expires in June, according to Snow.

He said the union's goal is to give its members more equitable pay for the region to retain them and address a potential shortage by making the district enticing for prospective hires.

"We want teachers to be part of the community, to make a home here," he said.

He and the union are worried a similar contract to the current one could create a revolving door of teachers in the district, which they said will have a negative ripple effect across the district.

Snow said nearly four dozen teachers have left the district in recent years.

District funds aren't the issue, he said.

"They have a large budget," Snow said, citing new construction and athletic field projects in the district. "What are you there for? Sports? Buildings?"

He said addressing the pay issues theoretically wouldn't require a tax hike.

However, he said funding is already earmarked for the aforementioned projects.

According to Snow, teachers accounted for 24 percent of the district budget in 2014.

Two years ago, that percentage was down to 17.5, he said.

The way teachers are compensated gives them a feeling that teachers should be grateful to be employed in the district, Snow said.

"Is it an honor for us to be here with you? That's what it seems like," he said.

Snow accused the district of wanting to "save face and make this go away" rather than address the union's concerns.

"People didn't realize how bad it is," he said of the pay issue in the district. "Our entire union is really upset about it."

The union is planning to meet Thursday ahead of the March 28 school board meeting.

"We're hopeful, but still planning," Snow said.

Patch reached out to Marple Newtown School District Business Manager Joseph Driscoll, but did not receive a response before time of publishing.