Negotiators for PGCEA and the Board of Education have reached a tentative agreement on a contract offer. That offer was unanimously approved by the PGCEA Board of Directors on Wednesday, December 10, 2003. A special meeting of the Representative Assembly took place on Monday, December 22, 2003, at which time the representatives were presented with the proposal. The representatives are scheduled to meet on January 12, 2004, at which time a position will be taken on the proposal.

Full details of the tentative agreement will be provided to each member prior to a membership vote taking place, if approved by the Representative Assembly.

The enclosed is a summary of the proposal:

• Two year agreement with salary/benefits and limited language re-openers in year two. The proposal covers the period of July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2005.

• Notice for employees when changing the start or closing time of a building (5 days). Transfer opportunity in the event of adverse impact.

• Limit on duty responsibility for itinerant teachers.

• Class list during first four (4) duty days and instructional materials for itinerant teachers.

• Transfer opportunity for teachers when nontraditional schedules are adopted by a building.

• Task force to review excessive paperwork demands. Group to recommend procedures for eliminating, reducing and revising paperwork requirements.

• BOE cooperation in the prosecution of those who physically or verbally abuse staff or interfere with them doing their jobs.

• Limitations on the time an employee can be temporarily reassigned when pulled from their classrooms or other assignments for a school system investigation (45 days).

• Enhancement of bereavement leave language to include: stepchild, step parent, grandchild, son and daughter-in-law, and grandparents under the (4) days of leave.

• Priority consideration for tenured employees when filling vacant coordinator or department chair positions.

• Rounding up to the highest $1,000 of the life insurance benefit. Currently, it is rounded to the next lowest $1,000.

• Beneficiary benefit for portion of unused sick leave for the estate of an active employee.

• Inclusion of other National Certifications under stipend language in contract, where National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) does not apply.

• Increment or step increase on schedule, based on anniversary date.

• 2% cost of living adjustment, October 18, 2003, implementation date.

• Any funds remaining in the contingency reserve at the end of the year will be used to create a stipend for employees.

• JROTC added to department chair list at building level.

• Mentor Teacher Program stipend added to contract.

• Compensatory Emolument Study Committee to recommend changes in emolument program.