By James McEvoy, Special Writer
LAWRENCE — Administrators in the Lawrence Township School District will receive a 2.5 percent raise each year through the 2017-18 school year as the result of a new contract ratified by the board of education Wednesday.
The contract is effective July 1 and extends through June 30, 2018, district officials confirmed following the board’s unanimous ratification of the pact.
In addition to the salary increases, the two sides agreed on continuing administrators’ higher contributions to healthcare that was first established under a 2011 state law, board member Laura Waters said.
Under the terms of the agreement, administrators also agreed to caps on salaries, Ms. Waters said, with high school principals capped at $160,000 a year. All other principals, 12-month assistant principals and supervisors and 10-month principals and supervisors will be capped at $155,000, $145,000 and $130,000, respectively.
The contract also provided increases for professional development and tuition reimbursement for administrators, Ms. Waters said.
Board President Kevin Van Hise touted the agreement, which he called “wonderful.”
“Certainly my thoughts go out to the administrators for working with us to complete that,” Mr. Van Hise said.
Ms. Waters also reported some progress in the ongoing negotiations with the Lawrence Township Education Association which represents the district’s school teachers. While she was not specific, she expressed hope that the two sides would reach resolution soon with another meeting scheduled with the LTEA ahead of fact-finding efforts by the state slated for August.
“This is us moving forward. We feel like there’s so much prospect for resolution. So we’re really excited that we’re continuing the discussion we started last week,” Ms. Waters said.
Despite this optimism, Wendy Stasolla, a parent of a middle school student in the district, lamented the two sides haven’t yet reached an agreement.
“The teachers are the heart and soul of our district and I’m very disappointed that this thing is dragging out so long,” said Ms. Stasolla, who also has three children who have already gone through Lawrence schools. “We need them happy, inspired and passionate and working the way they have.”
Lawrence teachers have been working without a contract since the last pact expired June 30, 2014.
