During these days of economic uncertainty, it is indeed a relief that the Upper Perkiomen School Board and educators have reached an agreement that will carry them through the next two years.

                Not everyone got what he or she wanted – that’s why it’s called a negotiation.   Taxpayers got a break (not as much as they would have liked) and teachers got a raise (not as much as they would have liked).

                There were dissenting votes – and disagreement is not a bad thing if both sides are willing to put aside their differences and move forward now that the vote is over.

                According to the outline of the agreement, as posted on the school district’s website, teachers will get a 3.01 percent increase in the first year and a 3.3 percent raise in the second year.  According to officials, that represents figures slightly below the market for surrounding school districts.  There is also an increase in the amount that teachers will contribute to their health care.  There were other give-and-takes on both sides.

                The contract is only for two years and in today’s volatile economic climate, that could be a good thing for both sides.  If the economy continues to tank, taxpayers only have to worry about the existing contract for two years.  If the economy takes off, teachers only have to live under the existing contract for two years.

                While you and I may not agree with everything, one item should be noted.  District officials should be commended for posting the outline on their website shortly after it was announced at last week’s school board meeting.

                There was another “hot button” issue at last week’s meeting – the formulas by which real estate taxes are fixed.  The Commonwealth provides up to four different formulas to use.  Officials were presented the options and chose the one they felt was fair.  It meant about a 1.4 percent reduction in the amount of increase that Montgomery County property owners were expecting.  It also meant about a 10 percent decrease in the amount that Berks County property owners were expecting their taxes to go down.

                When the Upper Perkiomen School Board voted earlier this year to forego applying for a waiver that would allow them to increase property taxes higher than the maximum allowed by state law, they were expressing a confidence in themselves that they could get the job done within the limits that voters agreed to several years ago.

                Both the teachers and school board should be congratulated on getting this important piece of business completed at the same time the 2010 school budget was approved.

                There probably is nobody who agrees with very aspect of the agreement, but it was negotiated, voted on and approved.  And it was done in a timely manner.