The Unionville-Chadds
Ford School Board and teachers’ association have agreed to a new three-year
contract. Terms of the deal call for a pay freeze during the first year, then 3
percent increases during the next two years.

Once ratified,
the contract will be posted on the district Web site, http://www.ucfsd.org/pdf/tentative_agreement.pdf

The Board split
6-2 in favor of the new contract which the majority of the school board
directors said was a fair settlement and in line with an independent
arbitrator’s fact-finding report.

Board directors
Timotha Trigg, Frank Murphy, Keith Knauss, Holly Manzone, Corrine Sweeney and
Jeff Hellrung voted in favor of the new contract. Eileen Bushelow and Paul
Price opposed the final terms of the contract. Jeff Leiser was
absent and did not vote.

Murphy voted in
favor despite the fact that the cost exceeds recommendations.

“While the cost
of the contract exceeded the fact-finder report by $500,000 over the three-year
contract term, the additional cost brings certainty the district teacher’s will
continue their excellent work uninterrupted by labor issues through the 2012 –
2013 school year.”

Murphy, an
attorney residing in Chadds Ford, served as the lead negotiator for the
district.

Bushelow voted
no over terms of health coverage.

“I cannot
support the contract which provides a different health care coverage than the
plan accepted by other district employees including the administrative, support
services and transportation,” Bushelow said.

Price, who is
not running for re-election, opposed the contract because, he said, the added
cost will add to budget issues the next two years.

“We have
squeezed all other possible cost savings from the school budget with the
exception of the teachers’ contract,” Price said. “The District faces
significant projected deficits for the fiscal years 2013–2106 which will
exhaust all district reserve funds. The board had the option of requiring the
teachers to work under the terms of the expired contract.”

Price projected
the three-year cost difference between status quo and the new contract as an
additional $1,900,000 that the taxpayers will have to pay.

Knauss
challenged Price’s objection saying, “I look forward to answering any questions
or comments district residents may have about the contract. Call me or send me an email to which I
will gladly respond.”

His email
address is kknauss@verizon.net.

Other business

• The District
will be hosting a farewell community breakfast honoring recently retired
Superintendent Sharon Parker on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the high school cafeteria
between 8 and 10 a.m.

• The September
School Board Meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m., at Hillendale
Elementary School LGI room.