The North Pocono School District administration and its teachers union have come to a tentative agreement on a five-year contract that includes 3.5 percent annual raises and no health insurance premium contributions.
School board member William Burke said the agreement also includes higher co-pays and deductibles for teachers, but he did not have details Thursday. District administrators did not return calls seeking more information.
The news comes seven weeks after the North Pocono Education Association went on strike for one day and about two weeks after a primary election that might have shifted the school board's outlook on negotiations.
John Holland, a spokesman for the North Pocono Education Association, described the tentative agreement as "fair and equitable."
"It is extremely emotional and a huge decision for all of us," Superintendent Bryan McGraw said in an email to school board members. "I appreciate your feedback and support. Please understand I am not thrilled with many things in the proposal, but it deserves a thorough review/consideration by all of us."
A document Mr. McGraw sent to school board members outlines $2 million in increased costs from the raises over the life of the contract, but also $1.12 million in health care savings, possibly from the higher deductibles, co-pays and a change in the district's prescription drug plan.
That is a net cost increase of $925,407 between now and 2016-17.
An analysis Mr. McGraw sent school board members looking at the school board's last offer to the union said the proposal would have only saved $183,405 in health insurance costs over five years. That would have translated to a net increase of more than $2 million over the life of a five-year deal.
That proposal called for teachers to pay 99 cents per two-week pay period toward health insurance in the first year, $5 in the second year and $10 after that.
Mr. Burke said at least three school board members are worried the health insurance savings projections could be inflated.
Mr. Holland declined to comment on the terms before the union holds its ratification vote on Sunday. Mr. Burke said the school board will review the details at Monday's work session and vote on the agreement at Wednesday's regular meeting.
Mr. Burke, who provided The Times-Tribune with documents related to the agreement Thursday, said he worries the deal would lock the district into an agreement taxpayers cannot afford through the summer of 2017. He said the raises are out of line with what is happening in the private sector and that he still wants teachers to contribute toward premiums.
Mr. Holland said he and Joseph O'Brien, the district's solicitor, negotiated on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday night, Mr. Holland and Mr. O'Brien met with district administrators and union representatives to come up with the tentative agreement.
Mr. Burke said the school board was not involved with the recent negotiations.
Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on TwitterAt a glance
Number of Students: 3,050
Number of teachers: Approximately 220
Average teacher salary (as of 2011-12): $55,193
Tenatative agreement highlights:
3.5 percent raise in 2012-13, retroactive to Jan. 1
3.5 percent raises in each of 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17
No health insurance premium contribution
Higher deductibles and copays; details not available