Mars Area School Board approves teachers contract in 7–1 vote

MARS — The Mars Area School Board voted 7–1 Tuesday to approve a new teachers contract, following both sides’ September acceptance of a state fact-finder’s recommendations on salaries, salary steps and health insurance.

Board President John Kennedy cast the lone dissenting vote, again citing his opposition to reducing the teacher salary schedule from 20 steps to 18. Board member Prentice was absent.

The Nov. 10 vote follows negotiations between the district and the Mars Area Education Association and the board’s earlier 8–1 vote to accept the fact-finder’s report. Kennedy also cast the lone opposing vote at that time.

The recommendations accepted in September called for a four-year agreement covering July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030, with annual salary-schedule increases of 4.75%, the gradual elimination of two salary steps and health-insurance changes beginning in the second year.

Following acceptance of the report, attorneys were to incorporate its recommendations into the final collective bargaining agreement.

Kennedy repeats objection to fewer salary steps

Kennedy’s opposition Tuesday centered on the same issue he raised in September: shortening the salary schedule so teachers reach the maximum salary level sooner.

Under the fact-finder’s recommendations, one step would be eliminated beginning with the 2027–28 school year and another beginning in 2029–30, reducing the schedule from 20 steps to 18.

In September, Kennedy told The 228 Times that school boards had pushed approximately 25 years ago for longer salary schedules with more steps. He opposed reversing that approach by eliminating two steps.

The union had proposed removing four steps. The district’s position outlined in the fact-finder’s report did not propose a reduction.

Bordt welcomes agreement, points to teacher retention

Board member Mike Bordt said he hopes the agreement will help the district retain its teachers.

“As a former student and life long Mars guy I am happy to see the teachers get a fair contract,” Bordt said. “Congratulations to the MAEA team for their contract and professionalism they displayed throughout the process. Our district has a really great staff and hopefully it keeps the majority around for years to come.”

Report called for 4.75% annual salary-schedule increases

Fact-finder Marc A. Winters recommended increasing salary schedules by 4.75% annually, with the first increase retroactive to July 1, 2026.

The recommendation fell between the two sides’ proposals. The association sought a five-year contract with annual salary-schedule increases ranging from 5% to 6%, while the district proposed a three-year agreement with annual increases of 3.5%.

The report described the recommended increases as a compromise intended to help Mars recruit and retain teachers while maintaining the district’s financial stability.

As explained by the association during The 228 Times’ September reporting, a 4.75% salary-schedule increase does not necessarily mean every employee receives an identical percentage raise. Individual increases may vary based on education, experience and placement on the salary schedule.

Teacher recruitment and retention had surfaced as concerns before fact-finding. Following an earlier board meeting, the district solicitor told The 228 Times that Mars had lost teachers to Seneca Valley and other neighboring districts.

Winters concluded that additional salary movement was warranted to keep Mars competitive, but that the district’s financial information and comparisons with other school systems did not support the union’s full proposal.

Health-insurance changes recommended for second year

The September recommendations called for maintaining the existing health-insurance arrangement during the 2026–27 school year, followed by changes beginning in 2027–28.

Those changes included a $2,000 individual deductible and a $4,000 family deductible.

The recommendations also called for ending coverage of GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight loss, with a 90-day transition period for employees with an existing prescription.

According to the association’s explanation in September, the provisions also included mandatory mail-order prescriptions and a payment to employees who waive district health coverage equal to 23% of the premium the district otherwise would pay for their coverage.

District contributions to employee health savings accounts were to equal 30% of the applicable deductible in 2027–28 and 25% in each of the final two years.

Based on the recommended deductibles, those contributions would amount to $600 for individual coverage and $1,200 for family coverage in 2027–28, followed by $500 and $1,000, respectively, in each of the remaining two years.

Negotiations followed expiration of previous agreement

The association represented approximately 243 teachers and other professional employees, according to information reported in September.

The previous six-year collective bargaining agreement expired June 30. Negotiations began Jan. 20, and the parties met approximately six times before the district requested fact-finding in July.

The parties entered fact-finding with approximately nine unresolved issues. Winters issued his recommendations Aug. 31 after considering the district’s finances, taxpayer interests and contracts in comparable school systems.

His report also noted that the district and association had reached approximately 30 tentative agreements before fact-finding, which were to be incorporated into the new contract.

Both sides accepted the report in September, setting the stage for preparation of the agreement approved by the board Tuesday.

For a detailed explanation of the recommendations, read The 228 Times’ Sept. 20 coverage of the fact-finder’s report.