As part of its continuing effort to address a variety of challenges faced by the Sto-Rox School District, the board of school directors successfully reached agreements with not one, but two of its work groups: teachers and Act 93 administrators.
Sto-Rox Education Association (SREA) - The district and the SREA have agreed to a new, three-year contract.
Act 93 (principals and district administrators) - The district and its administrators have reached a new, three-year agreement.
The Sto-Rox school board tonight approved both agreements at a Special Legislative Voting Meeting at Sto-Rox Jr./Sr. High School. Click here for a recap of Tuesday night’s meeting.
“The Sto-Rox School District administration and school board are pleased to reach these agreements,” said District Superintendent Megan Marie Van Fossan. “It is critical that we value all of our employees and their commitment to our students over the long-term.”
The agreement with SREA includes an average pay increase of 7% for teachers over the life of the contract, with pay increases each year across all experience levels. Teachers will also receive enhancements to their life insurance and maternity leave policies. These agreements represent a good-faith effort in providing investments in the district's educators, and are the result of a bargaining process built on trust and mutual respect.
“Both sides came to the negotiating table with the same goal in mind: to make the contract fair for the district and teachers,” said SREA President Maria Kotek. “We both recognized there were issues that needed to be addressed, and while we knew it was not going to be easy, we respected each other and worked hard to accomplish this shared goal.”
The district is proud to announce the new teachers’ agreement during National Teacher Appreciation Week. The district values its teachers and wants all employees to know they are appreciated every day, week and month of the year. Additionally, these agreements recognize the efforts of our educators who supported students under extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, the school board tonight approved a new, three-year Administrator’s Compensation Plan (Act 93). Our administrators are an integral part of implementing the district’s mission of providing a comprehensive education for every learner. This means the Sto-Rox School District school board has secured agreements with two of its key personnel groups.
These agreements come as the district completes the first year of its five-year state recovery plan. That plan commits the district to improvements in its educational programming, security, finances and facilities. Importantly, it did not keep the district from reaching equitable contract agreements. All of the agreements approved tonight provide resources for the district to retain teachers and staff and attract strong educators.
Further questions and requests for interviews about the new contract agreements should be directed to Dan Rinkus, Communications Specialist, at 412-738-5213 or drinkus@srsd.k12.pa.us.