P-G: Union urges upgrade in salary for substitute teachers in Mt. Lebanon schools

While budget planners in the Mt. Lebanon School District are busy readying the 2012-13 spending plan, hanging over their heads is a grievance that could cost them in years to come.

The Mt. Lebanon Education Association has filed a complaint with the district, demanding that long-term substitute teachers get credit for the salary scale they started on if they enter into a contract with the district.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/union-urges-upgrade-in-salary-for-substitute-teachers-in-mt-lebanon-schools-632132 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Trib: Teachers must 'do our part,' union chief says

The president of the state's largest teachers union asked its members on Wednesday to "seriously consider" Gov. Tom Corbett's call for them to accept a one-year pay freeze.

James Testerman of the Pennsylvania State Education Association said he sent a letter to local affiliates asking them to discuss a pay freeze and other cost-saving measures with their school boards.

Mt. Lebanon Education Association President Drew Haberberger said teachers there agreed to financial concessions, including increasing their health care contribution, in a contract ratified in August. He wouldn't specifically address a pay freeze, but said teachers are committed to negotiating in good faith.

"We've always been willing to work with our district and we'll continue to do so," he said. "That's pretty much how we would approach things."

Read the full article:

• www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_727783.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Updated 2: School District Signs 5-Year Contract with Teachers’ Union

Updated 2010-08-25 23:09: added link to announcement from school district.
Updated 2010-08-26 09:20: added link to the P-G's coverage.
Updated 2010-08-26 11:46: added link to school-board director James Fraasch's coverage.
Updated 2010-08-26 18:51: added link to the Trib's coverage.

School-board director Jo Posti is reporting on her blog that the school district has signed a 5-year contract with the teachers' union:

Tonight, the Board voted unanimously to approve a contract the MLEA ratified earlier this evening by its membership...

Teachers will work an additional 15 minutes per day and the school year will be extended to 184 days with teachers' total work years being extended from 194.5 to 197.5 work days...

Compensation will provide an average 4.15% salary increase with the first year's average being 3.57% which would not require any change to the budget we've already approved. This increase includes step increases, something to keep in mind when evaluating competitor districts' contracts, some of which are being reported in the news by salary increase only. This percentage includes both raises and step movement through the salary scale, with an average raise of $3,005 per year including step movement. We anticipate an average 1.44% annual savings due to the efficiencies detailed in the new contract, netting an overall average salary increase per year for all costs at 2.71%.

I'm sure we'll be hearing more about the new contract in the coming days. For now, however, see Mrs. Posti's blog and the school district's announcement for an overview of the terms.

Read more:

• Mt. Lebanon Signs Five Year Teachers' Contract (Center Court, the blog of school-board director Jo Posti)
• School Board Approves New Teacher Contract (Mt. Lebanon School District)
• Teachers, Mt. Lebanon schools reach agreement (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• New Teacher Contract Approved (School-board director James Fraasch)
• Mt. Lebanon teachers will pay more for insurance, work longer (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)