The Quakertown Community School District has come to a tentative four-year agreement with the Quakertown Educational Support Personnel Association (QESPA), which voted to accept the contract Tuesday night.
The deal for the approximately 225 full- and part-time employees will be on the agenda for approval at the school board’s May 14 meeting. Should the board vote in favor of the plan, salaries would increase 2 percent on July 1st. In subsequent years, salaries would rise 2.5, 3 and 3.5 percent
With attrition, the total cost of the agreement is expected to stay within Quakertown’s Act 1 index of 3 percent, said Zach Schoch, the district’s chief operating officer, who with the Board of School Directors has been bargaining with the support staff union over the course of the school year. Act 1, Pennsylvania’s property tax law, sets a cap on the amount a school district can raise property taxes.
As part of the accord, employees will pay more toward their health insurance premiums. Contributions would be 11 percent in year one, rising to 12, 13 and 13 percent.
Support personnel includes secretaries, food service workers, custodians, maintenance staff and aides.
We’re very proud of this tentative agreement,” said Jan Detweiler, QESPA president. “Our members play a valuable role in the success of the school community.”
