Pennsbury School District, Support Staff Agree To 5-Year Deal

FALLSINGTON, PA – Support staff workers with the Pennsbury School District will receive a pay increase and more contributions toward their healthcare after district officials and the employees’ union reached a new five-year deal on Thursday.

The agreement was unanimously approved by the district’s Board of Education at its meeting on Thursday, school officials announced. The contract includes a 1.85 percent pay raise for each year of the deal and supports a move to Delaware Valley Health Trust with increased contributions, school officials said Friday. Board members TR Kannan and Debra Wachspress were not present for Thursday's vote.

A district spokeswoman said that the district has also reached a tentative agreement with local teachers that the board will vote on in November. She did not have details of that pact.

Pennsbury's support professionals, totaling approximately 674 staff members, include all bus drivers, custodians, maintenance employees, paraprofessionals, and secretaries, among other positions, the district said in a news release.

"We believe this to be a fair deal for both sides," school board President Christine Toy-Dragoni said in a statement released by the district. "We worked together to come up with an agreement that was fair to the staff while remaining fiscally responsible to our stakeholders. Our support staff is an integral part of district operations, and on behalf of the board, I want to thank them for their dedication to our students.”

The current contract for support employees expires on June 30, 2022. The new agreement takes effect on July 1 and will expire on June 30, 2027.

As support professionals, we are essential to student success in the Pennsbury School District,” Marla Lipkin, president of Pennsbury Educational Support Professional Association, said in the news release. “As an Association, we believe this agreement reflects the district's understanding of this fact while providing what PESPA members need to support the education of all Pennsbury students.

"This agreement is a fair resolution for both the district and our members. On behalf of PESPA, I am proud of how our negotiation team andadministration worked collaboratively to reach an agreement that puts our students first.”