MARS — The Mars Area School District and its teachers have reached a contract settlement after both sides voted Wednesday to accept a state-appointed fact-finder’s recommendations, ending a prolonged labor dispute.
Because both sides accepted the report, its recommendations will be incorporated into the new collective bargaining agreement. Attorneys must still prepare the final agreement for the district and union to sign.
“We’re extremely happy to have this over with,” Meckler told The 228 Times after the meeting. “It’s sad that it took this long, but at least it’s something that the teachers feel comfortable with. And we can move on from this onto other things that we can do to make this district better.”
The fact-finder’s report had not been released publicly as of the end of Wednesday’s meeting, leaving the agreement’s full salary, benefits and other terms unavailable for public review.
Photo by Harold Aughton/The 228 Times
Kennedy objects to reducing salary steps
He told The 228 Times that school boards had pushed the state to increase the number of salary steps about 25 years ago, and he opposed reversing that approach by eliminating two steps now. During the meeting, Kennedy said the reduction was his only significant concern with the fact-finder’s recommendations.
Meckler said shortening the schedule would allow teachers to reach the top salary level more quickly. A longer schedule, she said, spreads salary growth across more incremental steps and results in smaller increases over time.
“I hope that moving forward, we can understand each other a little better and work together a little bit better to resolve other issues that are still outstanding,” she told the board.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Gross thanked both the board and the teachers for approving the report, saying the agreement provides a foundation for the district to move forward.
The district solicitor said the fact-finding process cost the district $1,750, the teachers union $1,750 and the state $3,500, for a combined $7,000.
Board approves two police vehicles and donation
In other business, the board voted 7-2 to purchase a second police vehicle from Cranberry Township and authorize the purchase and outfitting of both district police vehicles at a total cost not to exceed $36,000. Mike Bordt and Joseph Joswiak voted against the measure.
James estimated that installing 911-compliant radios would cost $11,000, or $5,500 per vehicle. Removing Cranberry Township’s police graphics and adding Mars Area School District Police markings would cost approximately $4,000. Registration and other smaller expenses bring the expected total to about $33,500.
The $36,000 authorization provides a cushion for unexpected expenses, including possible paint repairs after the existing graphics are removed, James said. He emphasized that $36,000 is the maximum total for purchasing and outfitting both vehicles, not an additional amount for the second vehicle.
The board separately voted 7-2 to accept a $20,000 donation from the Evelyn Rodgers Foundation for the police vehicles. Bordt and Joswiak again dissented.
With the donation applied, James estimated the district’s net cost for both vehicles at approximately $13,000 to $14,000.
