Superintendent: New Teachers Contract Unlikely By Start Of School
Baugh says good-faith negotiations are in full gear
While negotiations are in full gear, it is unlikely teachers in the Bensalem School District will have a contract before the school year begins early next month, according to Superintendent David Baugh.
“I'm doubtful it will happen before the school year starts,” he said.
Baugh said the two sides first met in January and then resumed in May, with a fairly steady schedule thrown off a bit by a serious illness of a representative for the Bensalem Township Education Association. He said the two sides met all day Friday and have two more sessions scheduled for both this and next week.
“The will is good on both sides,” said Baugh, who was part of the talks until being promoted from assistant superintendent to the top spot early this month. “It's just a tough time to be negotiating contracts. It's a prolonged process but everyone is negotiating in good faith … and it's going to take some time.”
Baugh declined to discuss what issues might be the toughest to resolve.
Attempts to reach Cynthia Keaton of the BTEA over the last several months continued to be unsuccessful this week.
The association represents about 450 employees including nurses and guidance counselors.
Its last contract, a five-year deal, expired June 30.
That contract granted 3-percent annual pay hikes, according to district business manager Jack Myers.
In addition, teachers paid 10 percent of their health plan premiums, up to a maximum of $2,200 per year. The prescription drug coverage plan required a $5 co-pay for generic medications and co-pays of $20 to $35 for brand name drugs.
Union members who opted out of the health plan received payments of $100 a month if they were entitled to single coverage or $300 a month if they had a family plan.
Baugh said he is not overly concerned with starting the school year without a new teachers deal.
“I'd prefer to have a contract but the BTEA is very professional and I think they continue to put the kids first,” he said. “I think we'll be OK.”
Bill Wasylenko
6:29 am on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
If they were putting the kids first, anyone opting out of health insurance would not get extra money every month. If you opt in you pay. If you opt out, You are covered elsewhere or a risk taker. The money saved should belong to the district, not be given out. Health Insurance is no longer an entitlement but a necessity. One should not be rewarded by opting out.
Dave Fiedler
11:35 am on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
One can only hope our School Board will be as strong and fiscally responsible as that of the Neshaminy District. The Neshaminy board has kept taxpayer interests paramount even though it's been painful and protracted. Bensalem has a history of of not always acting in the best interest of taxpayers, especially when it comes to labor negotiations. Indeed it was the only district in Lower Bucks, according to a chart appearing in the Courier-Times a few weeks ago, that registered a net increase in its spending budget for the coming year. There may have been reasons for this, but still it is what it is--another in a series of annual property tax increases. We need diligence and fiscal responsibility when it comes to labor negotiations, even when the going gets tough. The expedient solution may not be the best one for taxpayers. Certainly teachers have our respect. It is a noble profession. However, they should not receive increases in compensation that ignores the realities of the economy and what most taxpayers have seen over the past four years of minimal raises and cuts to benefits.
Steve
11:56 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Does anyone know If both partners, married or not, are employed by the School District or Township, do we (taxpayers) really pay one of them not to take the insurance and be covered on the other's insurance policy?