During the Nov. 17 Shaler School Board meeting, the board approved a collective bargaining agreement between the Shaler Area Education Association and the Shaler Area School District, beginning Aug. 15, 2022, and effective until Aug. 15, 2027.

In December 2020, the current contract was extended through August 2022 due to the uncertainty of the pandemic.

The new five-year deal was worked on for months, with Shaler superintendent Dr. Sean Aiken thanking the association during the meeting and describing the negotiations as “a labor of love.”

The association, who represents 353.5 teachers, negotiated an increase in pay and accepted an increase in health insurance contributions made by the teachers. The increased pay range runs from 3.49 to 4.05 percent and the individual insurance rate will increase by $20 per month for an individual and $40 per month for family coverage.

The contract states that the starting salary for full-time professional teachers will increase to $54,832 for those with a bachelor’s degree and $57,882 for those with a master’s degree in year five of the contract.

“Having a contract extension in place with the teacher’s association ensures Shaler Area has a focus on quality education without interruption for five more years,” said board member Tim Gapsky.

In a press release, Aiken praised the “focused and collaborative approach” by the association, with the new contract “focusing on addressing the needs of all district stakeholders,” including “teachers, taxpayers and students.”

Craig Wells, president of the Education Association, said via the district’s press release that the contract strengthens a goal held by both parties, to “provide the best education possible to Shaler Area students and supporting those who work with these students every day.”

Another aspect of the contract was the option for all teachers to teach up to six periods per day – previously, only some teachers in certain departments on the secondary level could teach six periods per day.

“I appreciate the fair negotiating table that both sides presented and it is a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved,” Gapsky said.

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