District Counting on 35-45 Teacher Retirements

School district administration officials acknowledge their preliminary 2011-2012 budget includes virtually no increase for teachers salaries.

But that doesn't mean they expect the Bensalem Township Education Association to accept a pay freeze.

“It's based on the assumption of 35 to 45 (teacher) retirements,” Superintendent Bill Gretzula explained this week.

Those retirements of longer-term and higher-salaried employees, to be replaced by teachers lower on the pay scale, are expected to save the district about $1.4 million next school year, business director Jack Myers previously explained.

The five-year contract of the BTEA, which represents 450 employees including nurses and guidance counselors, expires June 30. Gretzula said this week that the administration and association are in the process of setting up their first sit-down talks.

Cynthia Keaton, president of the BTEA, has not returned several messages seeking comment.

The preliminary 2011-2012 budget of $120.1 million, which represents a 5-percent increase over the 2010-20111 approved budget, is expected to be adopted by the school board next Wednesday (Feb. 9).

As it stands, it would mean an average tax hike of about $40. But that figure is largely dependent upon a recent tax assessment of Parx Casino being upheld on appeal.

The spending plan is expected to be discussed and refined over the next four months, with a March 23 board work session scheduled along with a May 25 public question-and-answer forum.

The board is expected to adopt the final budget in early June.

 The preliminary budget can be found on the district's website, http://www.bensalemsd.org.