Council Rock Teachers To Make Salary Concessions Due To Deficit

NEWTOWN, PA — The Council Rock School District, facing a "substantial" budget deficit due to the coronavirus pandemic, is seeking $4.6 million in salary concessions from its teachers.

Tentative agreements on the salary concessions have been reached with both the Council Rock Education Association (CREA) and the Council Rock Administrators Association (CRAA), the district said.

The teachers union and the Council Rock School Board will vote on the measure Thursday.

If approved, the salary concessions for teachers will result in a total approximate savings of $4.2 million —$2.3 million in the 2020-21 school year and $1.9 million in the 2021-22 school year, the district said.

It calls for an 18-month total freeze on all horizontal and step (years of service) movement from the end of the 2019-20 school year, while a 0.5 percent increase will be made to the current
salary matrix for both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years.

In addition, the contractually-scheduled increases to employee benefits premium shares will rise to 16 percent and 7 percent, respectively, for the non-buy up plan options from the previous thresholds of 15 percent and 6 percent.

The teacher work year will also be abbreviated by one day from 190 days to 189 days, and members will be permitted to roll over two unused family illness days at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

The concessions for administrators, which include the superintendent, the director of business administration, and the director of human resources, will result in a total savings of about $407,000 over the two school years, the district estimates.

If approved, the agreement with the administrators calls for an 18-month total salary freeze through December 31, 2021. During this time, all administrators’ salaries will remain at the rates in effect during the 2019-2020 school year.

The administrators' agreement keeps employee health insurance contributions at 15 percent and 6 percent, respectively, for the non-buy up plan options.

Council Rock said it is working to reduce expenses, as it is facing a deficit for the 2020-21 school year and "likely beyond."

The district has also decided to suspend its capital plan and has made cuts in the budget for items like instructional technology and textbooks.

"These salary concessions are a recognition of both the current and future difficulties facing the district and the community. The willingness of all CRSD employees to make these salary concessions during this difficult time is a testament to their dedication and commitment to the district and our students," Council Rock said in a statement.