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William Penn SD reports extensions for bargaining units; safety officers receive pay bump
Summary
The William Penn SD personnel committee updated the board on one-year contract extensions for four units, ongoing bargaining with the teachers’ union (WPEA) and clerical staff (ESPA), and a prior extension that raised school safety officers’ pay from $15 to $20 per hour and expanded dependent medical coverage.
Speaker 1 briefed the William Penn SD personnel committee that all four bargaining units received one-year contract extensions that run through June 30, 2025, and that the district’s goal is to secure multiyear agreements going forward. "All units had an extension for 1 year in June 2024," Speaker 1 said, adding the district is prioritizing salary and benefits in negotiations.
On teacher bargaining, Speaker 1 said the district met with WPEA yesterday and provided a counterproposal after WPEA first submitted a proposal in October or November; funding problems led to a pause in earlier talks. Regarding clerical staff represented by ESPA, Speaker 1 said an opening meeting with a mediator occurred Jan. 6 but ESPA has not yet assembled its bargaining team or completed canvassing, so no subsequent meeting date is set. The district hopes negotiations will start after Feb. 18 once ESPA completes its internal steps.
Speaker 1 described a one-year extension crafted in June 2024 that included two specific concessions for school safety officers: "Their rate was increased to $20 an hour" (up from $15), and medical benefits were expanded to include dependents. The extension covers July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Speaker 1 said the district wants to negotiate a multi-year agreement covering three to four years next.
Speaker 1 also outlined terms for Act 93 employees, noting that the extension did not include a salary increase but changed vacation accrual rules: employees may now accrue up to 40 days; accrual stops at 40 days until time is used. "Once the bank hits 40 days, you can't accrue anymore," Speaker 1 said.
No formal motions or votes on contracts were recorded in the transcript. The committee asked clarifying questions about timelines and posting practices during the update; Speaker 1 responded that the district is notifying employees in writing of timelines and requirements and is attempting to keep negotiations moving.
The personnel committee did not reach a final agreement during the session; the discussion described ongoing bargaining steps, extensions in place through June 2025, and the district’s intent to pursue multiyear contracts.
