The Upper Perkiomen Education Association (UPEA) and the Upper Perkiomen School District shook hands Tuesday night on a two-year teachers’ contract that saw both sides making concessions, but was ultimately deemed “fair.”

                The contract, which was negotiated without outside mediation after about 15 meetings, will be in effect from September 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012. 

                A tentative agreement was reached June 17.  The 220 teachers of the UPEA voted to accept the terms of the agreement around 3:30 p.m. June 22. 

                The school board voted 6-3 to accept that contract, with directors Rob Pepe, Margie Gehlhaus and John Gehman voting nay, later that night.

                Under the terms of the contract, the UPEA agreed to reduced medical and prescription coverage and higher medical co-pays from 5.5 to 10 percent the first year and 12 percent the second year.  Tuition reimbursements will also be reduced by about 25 percent. 

                All co-curricular salaries, for positions like coaches and advisors, will also be frozen for two years and all teachers currently progressing through the salary schedule will receive a wage freeze for six months before receiving their next raise.

                The agreement also calls for a salary increase of 3.01 for the first year and a 3.30 increase the second year.  Teachers at the highest part of the salary spectrum will receive a 1.9 percent increase the first year and a 1.3 percent increase the second year.

                Those increases are below the average for surrounding districts.

                Teachers will also have one less work day per year, reduced from 191 to 190.  Other changes included a minor expansion to bereavement leave, the addition of an emergency day and an increase in reimbursement for unused sick days at retirement.  Teachers are also allowed to donate their unused personal days to colleagues in need.

                The terms of the contract, including the salary increase and medical expenses, will fall within what was budgeted by the school board in its 2010-11 final budget approved June 17.  The salary increase was budgeted at 2 percent but higher co-pays and other insurance reductions will counter those expenses. 

                Overall, both sides said they were satisfied with the outcome.

                UPEA President Bob LaSalle, noting that many districts are still negotiating contracts for next year or are working without one, said the most important factor is that both sides worked together to find a balance.

                He said because of economic concerns, the financial impact of each decision weighed heavily for both sides.  

                “Despite the length of time and number of meetings, there was never any hostility,” he said Wednesday.  “This was fair for both sides.  Any time you come out of contract talks and have made concessions to your medical coverage, your prescription coverage, increased the co-pays for insurance and reduced the tuition reimbursement package, you have to say you made a lot of concessions to get there…The trade-off to all of this was that we were able to negotiate a small increase in salary and address some other issues that don’t have a heavy financial impact on the district. 

                “No one currently working as a regular, full-time teacher will lose their job.  This allows us to continue to improve upon our current programs and tackle new issues.  We also get two years of continuing to work together uninterrupted without distraction in order to make our schools better and improve student achievement.”

                School Board President Harry Quinque agreed.

                “We are really happy to have a settlement,” he said.  “The kids get to go to school in September and not have this on our backs.  There were ups and downs, but in the end both sides gained.  There were things each did and didn’t want, but that’s what negotiations are all about.

                “This sets the stage for the next contract with gains in health care and credit reimbursements…Ultimately I think we came away with a contract we can afford.  We tried really hard to do what was best for the community.”