Bensalem: New Staff Contract Approved

From the BCCT.

Split board approves support staff contract
By: Joan Hellyer

Bensalem School District support staff employees will receive annual pay raises and contribute more toward their healthcare benefits, according to a new contract recently approved by the school board.

The four-year deal calls for members of the Bensalem Township Educational Support Professional Association to receive salary increases of three percent each of the first two years, a 3.5 percent increase in the third year and a four-percent pay hike in the fourth year, Superintendent James Lombardo said.

The agreement also includes equity adjustments of 50 cents per hour in the second year and 75 cents per hour in the third year for playground and cafeteria aides to make their salaries comparable to similar employees in other districts, Lombardo said.

The employees also agreed to go to the 10/20/70 insurance plan offered by Personal Choice to help reduce district expenses, the superintendent said. It is less expensive than the provider’s Option 15 plan previously available to the staff members.

In addition, the BTESPA members also agreed to pay $22 per month toward their healthcare premium if they have the Personal Choice plan and $17 per month if they have the less costly Keystone Point of Service plan, Lombardo said.

The new deal is retroactive to September 2008 and runs through August 2012.
The association represents 156 non-teaching assistants, registered nurses, personal care assistants, and cafeteria and library aides who work in the district’s nine schools.

With the new contract, starting salaries range from about $11 per hour to just under $19 per hour depending on the position, Lombardo said.

The board originally voted on the proposed agreement during its Feb. 25 meeting, but fell one “yes” vote short of approving the deal.

The deal was brought back before the board during its April 7 meeting after Carol McGuire, who was not present during the February meeting, asked that it be reconsidered.

It was approved 5-4 with McGuire, James Bodnar, Rose Jacobs, Carol Jones and Stephen Nowmos voting in favor of the pact. President Harry Kramer, Vice President Eugene Rothenberg, Dr. Lewis Brandt and Heather Nicholas voted against.