New contract includes 2.4% annual raises for Greater Latrobe teachers

Greater Latrobe teachers will receive annual pay raises under a new five-year contract approved this week by both the union and the school board.

Running through July 31, 2029, the new labor agreement provides an average annual pay hike of 2.43% for teachers who are at the top rung of the district’s 17-step salary schedule.

According to data compiled by the Pennsylvania State Education Association, $47,057 was the starting salary for a new teacher at Greater Latrobe during the 2023-24 school year.

Contributions to employee health insurance costs also will increase annually, by an average of 12.33%, under the new contract. Specific contributions will depend on the level of coverage a faculty member selects from plans offered by the Westmoreland County Public School Healthcare Consortium.

District officials said more details of the contract would be forthcoming once it has been formally signed by both parties

The Greater Latrobe contract covers about 260 union members. They had been working under the terms of a previous agreement, which expired on July 31.

“We are excited that the board was in agreement with ratification,” said Anthony Seranko, president of the Greater Latrobe Education Association.

Soon after seeing the new contract settled, Seranko is set on Dec. 2 to leave Greater Latrobe, citing personal reasons. The school board accepted his resignation as an instructor at Mountain View Elementary, where he has served as the teacher leader among language arts and social studies faculty in grades 3-6.

Tanya Bowley will take over as leader of the teaching group, receiving a prorated supplemental salary of $1,539.