Pennridge board approves memorandum raising extra-duty pay after years without increases

The Pennridge School District Board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Pennridge Education Association updating extra‑duty responsibility (EDR) compensation and establishing a process for regular review, the board said at its meeting.

Board members and union representatives said the EDR schedule had not been updated for about eight years. The MOU aligns the district’s EDR pay schedule more closely with neighboring districts and creates a mechanism for periodic review and adjustment. The Pennridge Education Association ratified the agreement earlier the same day, PEA leaders told the board.

Administrators and union negotiators described months of collaborative work to develop the agreement. Jim Valletta, PEA president, and Lydia Raymer Hunter, PEA chief negotiator, spoke during public comment to thank district leaders and trustees for the work that led to the MOU. Several parents and residents also urged the board to approve the MOU, saying extracurricular programs depend on staff who take on coaching, advising and other after‑hours responsibilities.

Board members acknowledged the financial cost but said failing to update EDR pay made it difficult to fill coaching and advisor roles and risked program continuity. The board recorded the approval as an 8‑0 vote.

The MOU also included clarified language on transportation accruals and other personnel items discussed in committee, which the board approved earlier in the meeting. The agreement does not specify a total district cost in the meeting record; board members described the change as an increase in the pay schedule and noted the district will absorb the cost through the annual budget process.

The board directed administration to implement the updated EDR schedule and to report back through normal budgeting channels.