ICYMI: New Teacher Contract Brings 2.6% Raises, Higher Co-Pays

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PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Parsippany-Troy Hills School District Board of Education and the Education Association have come to terms on a new, three-year contract.

According to the association, the contract runs from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018, and includes a handful of changes from the previous contract:

• 2.6-percent annual raises
• Health benefits stipend in years two and three of the contract paid to anyone who receives and pay into the health benefits
• Increased out-of-pocket co-pays for name brand prescription drugs
• Health contribution rate freeze (percentage of premium) for teachers at the top of the salary guide
• 4/5 teaching load for President of the Association*
• Increased tuition reimbursement bank
• The 4/5 teaching load for the Education Association’s president refers to the person in that role receiving one-fifth of his or her teaching day being dedicated to Association business.

“This reduces the number of times that the president need be called out of class to meet with administration or board representatives on union business,” the Association said.

The district will reimburse up to $235,000 per year in tuition reimbursement costs by teachers, up from the previous amount of $220,000. Any unused funds will be rolled over to the following year’s tuition bank. In previous contracts, the unused funds were forfeited.

“The PTHEA is very pleased to have the negotiations process behind us, and we are looking forward to working with the Board of Education as partners in providing the best educational experience for the students of Parsippany,” the Association said in a statement.