Council Rock Reaches Agreement With Its Support Staff

NEWTOWN — The Council Rock School Board is expected to ratify a four-year contract with its support staff during a special meeting on June 23 at the Chancellor Center.

The tentative agreement, ratified by the Council Rock Educational Support Professional Association (CRESPA) on June 16, is expected to cost the district $2,861,511, according to information released by the district.

Over the course of the four-year agreement, CRESPA members will receive increases to the salary schedule of 2.5 percent in each year of the contract plus any applicable vertical salary movement.

The tentative agreement will also modify employee health benefits as follows:

• Maintenance Care through CVS Caremark will be implemented in the prescription drug program.

• Telemedicine will be implemented in the medical program through Independence Blue Cross.

• The district will continue to offer one base plan, Independence Blue Cross, PC-C4-F3-O2, Flex Series, and a buy up plan, Independence Blue Cross PC C3-F1-O1.

• In 2022-23, employees will maintain their current contribution rates of 12 percent for those earning under $38,000 and 14 percent for those earning over $38,000 annually. In 2023-24, employee contributions for all employees will be 13 percent, and in 2024-25 and 2025-26, employee contributions will rise to 13.5 percent.

When offices are closed and 12 month employees are not required to work onsite, maintenance department members who are required to report to work on site will be paid one-and-one-half times the employee's current hourly rate of pay for the specific time they are required to be
on site as determined by the administration.

In year one, on July 1, 2022, maintenance specialists will receive an additional $1.50 per hour added to their hourly rate of pay, however, they will not receive the wage increases enumerated above until years two through years four of the agreement.

The annual stipend for teacher assistants working in particularly challenging assignments will increase from $150 to $250.

Other revisions include agreements for the district and the association to work collaboratively on annual guidelines for the district’s time keeping system, on creating additional professional development opportunities for employees, and the formation of a joint committee to evaluate the duties and responsibilities of the district’s administrative support staff.

According to the district, the agreement was built over three years of collaborative discussions with CRESPA and a six month comprehensive bargaining process.

CRESPA represents the district’s administrative assistants; athletic trainers; attendance secretaries; bookkeepers; bus monitors; cafeteria monitors; central warehouse specialist; clerical secretaries; computer network support technicians; electricians; groundskeepers; hall monitors; HVAC specialists; information system support specialists; instructional assistants; library assistants; maintenance specialists; painters; payroll clerks; plumbers; receptionists; recess
monitors; Registered Nurses; shipper/receiver; secretaries for principals, guidance departments, district and school offices; security guards; transportation specialists; and van drivers.