WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — Members of the New Kensington-Arnold Education Association and the New Kensington-Arnold School District reached a tentative agreement, averting the strike that teachers had planned to participate in on Monday.
“From the School District’s viewpoint, the primary purpose of these negotiations was to determine the long-term financial projections necessary to meet the costs of instruction for the next five years. A priority for the district was to limit cost increases to the district over the life of the contract. In salary, the Association will receive an average 3.5% increase each year for the life of the contract. Health insurance premiums, the single sticking point left prior to the tentative agreement, will increase for NKAEA members to an average of 11.8% per year for the life of the contract. Together, the Association and the District worked to create financial success for the district in the future,” the release said.
NKAEA President Ashley Pujol said in the release, “We are pleased to have secured a five-year deal that offers stability to our members. Our students are most important, and our team kept that as our focus. Through the negotiations process over the last year, NKAEA is proud to say that we kept the values of our New-Kensington-Arnold community, while we sought a fair and equitable contract.”
Board vice-president Terry Schrock said they look forward to working together to move the district toward its academic and fiscal goals and they will continue working together to meet students’ needs. Schrock also said in the release, “We want to thank everyone for their efforts in resolving this matter in a mutually beneficial manner.”
The release also said the NKAEA represents 151 teachers and education professional staff, including nurses and school counselors, at the New Kensington-Arnold School District.
According to the release, both parties still need to ratify the agreement.
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