Pottstown Schools, Teachers: Contract Negotiations Finally Over

In a unanimous decision, Pottstown School District's school board approved a two-year contract settlement with teachers, effectively ending a near two-year negotiation process.

 The 2010-2011 contract formalized a pay freeze that district teachers worked through earlier this year. 

The new agreement features a one percent pay increase.

It also contains a new medical plan. According to school board solicitor Stephen Kalis, teachers will contribute $90 per pay period, an eight percent increase from the previous plan.

Teachers are also provided a less expensive plan that costs $60 per two-week pay period. Teachers may remain on the current plan if they pay the difference between the lower premium plan and the more expensive plan.

School district business manager Linda Adams estimated the district's net savings from the new medical plan to be about $125,000. Many teachers hope the savings will allow the board to reconsider cutting student programs and teacher aide positions.

“I would hope . . . that this board would look carefully at these cuts they’ve proposed,” said Derek Freedman, negotiator for the teachers union. “They hurt our children. While our members may lose, and our members will lose a lot over this contract, those that will lose will be our children.”

A brief award ceremony was also held at the meeting to recognize the nominees and recipients of the Co-Teaching Team of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards.

The Co-Teaching Team of the Year Award was awarded to Sandra Zuchero - an eighth grade learning support teacher and Angela Wagner - an eighth grade reading specialist. The two were paired together as part of the district’s effort to increase the participation of special education students in regular classrooms.

The recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award was Sharon Holloway. She works as an intervention specialist at Lincoln Elementary School and will represent the district at the state level.

Members of the board also addressed several criticisms pertaining to school district Supt. Reed Lindley’s meetings in Harrisburg with Pennsylvania legislators and charter school officials.

“(Lindley’s) many communications with Harrisburg and the charter schools have allowed this district to know exactly how charter schools could help or hurt the district,” said board member Polly Weand.

Weand also said she was frustration over local news reports she feels are unfairly targeting the board.

“I am tired of the board being targeted as people who cannot work together . . . please be aware of the true facts, no matter what was told to you in the local papers.”

Lindley also addressed his criticism.

“I was open with my intent and I pursued conversations with legislators in an attempt to bring this board more options as they struggle -- and will continue to struggle with -- funding and quality issues in the future.”