Sweet Stevens Client District Ratifies Teacher Contract without Salary Schedules
News Release
(New Britain, PA)- Recently, the law firm of Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams released an informational newsletter entitled, "Understanding Teacher Salaries in Pennsylvania and the Problems of the Salary Schedule." The piece offered an overview of the current teacher salary schedule model in Pennsylvania: its background, problems it poses for districts in terms of budgeting, and questions that many have as to whether the "column" system truly reflects teacher performance and ability. The article asserted that the current trend in collective bargaining agreements is toward school districts and entities rethinking the usefulness of the current system and instead seeking alternative models for salary increases.
This week the firm announced that one of its labor and solicitor clients, Towanda Area School District, successfully negotiated and ratified a new teacher contract without any salary schedules. In the new contract, all teachers will get the same raise every year, with a chance for a salary adjustment for any teacher that completes a master’s degree or approved certification. In a statement, the firm shared that "This contract is a bold step towards transparency and fairness, and both parties deserve tremendous credit. We hope other districts and teachers’ unions will take a close look at what they accomplished."
Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, LLP was formed in 1995 by nine experienced education lawyers who created the first private law practice in Pennsylvania dedicated entirely to Education Law. Since then, the firm has grown to 16 attorneys who represent over 290 school and municipal entities as Solicitors or as Special Counsel in more than 50 counties throughout Pennsylvania.