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East Penn educators press board after union overwhelmingly rejects district offer
Summary
Teachers and union negotiators urged the East Penn School Board to return to bargaining after the East Penn Education Association rejected the district's four-year proposal; the district said its offer included historically competitive raises, a $1,000 one-time payment and modest benefits changes but the association's membership voted it down by a wide margin.
Public commenters and union negotiators pressed the East Penn School Board on July 8, saying the district and the East Penn Education Association (EPEA) must reach a fair contract before the school year.
Laurie Miller, who identified herself as president of the Eastman Education Association, said the EPEA's contract covering 587 professional staff expired June 30 and criticized the district for delays in bargaining. "We are working towards a contract that acknowledges the commitment of all professional staff," she said, urging the board to settle the agreement before classes begin.
Chris Ritter, who said he is the EPEA chief negotiator, told the meeting the district's proposal was rejected by the association membership, which he reported as 367 to 11 in the membership vote. Ritter said the proposal did not adequately address working conditions or provide "commensurate compensation," and said the union's own proposal fits within the district's approved budget and remains open to concessions if the parties return to the table.
The board read a prepared statement summarizing the district's offer and the negotiating timeline. The district described a four-year proposal that it characterized as "fair, competitive and equitable," and outlined several specific elements: a four-year term; salary pool increases averaging about 3.81% per year (with a first-year increase the district described as roughly 4.25%); a one-time $1,000 payment in year one intended to help restore wages lost during a prior pay freeze; a boost to starting steps to attract new teachers; co-curricular and coaching stipend increases of about 2% per year; expansion of health-care contribution tiers from two to five; an extension of the teacher workday by 10 minutes (to 7 hours, 30 minutes) with one fewer teacher day in the year (reducing days from 192 to 191); and severance and leave language updates. The district said its salary schedules were developed with association input and that components evolved from discussions beginning in January 2024 through bargaining in May.
Union speakers and parents at public comment repeatedly urged the board to make the district more competitive to retain and attract teachers, citing prior pay freezes taken by staff and saying compensation now lags nearby districts such as Parkland. One parent, Nancy Solomon, recounted the support she received from teachers following a family tragedy and urged the board to "be there for our teachers."
The meeting record shows no formal board action to adopt or modify the proposal that night; instead the board approved routine agenda items later in the meeting. Both sides indicated a desire to continue discussions: Ritter urged returning to bargaining and the district statement said negotiators would continue to reach out to the association for future meetings.
Next steps: the board did not vote on the contract at the July 8 meeting. Negotiations remain ongoing and both the association and the district signaled willingness to resume talks.
