The contracts are in effect July 1 through June 30, 2021. District and union officials praised the negotiations.
At its regular meeting this week, the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education unanimously approved a four-year employment contract with the Lenape District Education Association (LDEA).
The LDEA represents approximately 850 teachers and other staff including school counselors, child study team professionals, media specialists, nurses and athletic trainers, as well as administrative support staff, interpreters and paraprofessionals
According to the district, the group ratified the contract on June 8.
District officials say the four-year agreement includes an average salary increase of 3.19 percent, a move to a less costly health insurance plan and the implementation of a more evenly distributed method for the contribution of each employee’s share for health benefits.
In addition, the district says the board of education gained additional flexibility in the scheduling and hiring of special education paraprofessionals.
“Negotiations with the LDEA went very well” said LRHSD board member Robert Bende, who chairs the negotiations committee. “Everybody was in agreement and very content with the final outcome.”
According to LDEA President John Faubl, the contract received overwhelming support from the association’s members.
“Speaking on behalf of my colleagues, we feel fortunate that the negotiations between the LDEA and the LRHSD board went smoothly,” Faubl said. “The final agreement benefits all levels of employees from teachers to nurses to administrative support staff and interpreters.”
According to the district, the district also approved a four-year employment contract with the Lenape District Support Staff Association (LDSSA). The LDSSA, which represents the district’s bus drivers and custodians ratified the contract on June 19.
District officials say that contract includes a salary increase of 3.21 percent, the less costly health insurance plan and a more evenly distributed method for employee health benefit contributions.
As of July 1, district officials say all district employees will be moved to the less costly medical.
According to LRHSD school business administrator James H. Hager, the approved LDEA and LDSSA contracts are in effect July 1 through June 30, 2021.
