Bethel Park School Board and the Bethel Park Federation of Teachers have agreed to a new three-year contract that will run from July 1 through June 30, 2025.

The federation includes approximately 330 certified personnel, consisting of teachers, counselors, psychologists, nurses, speech therapists, information technology specialists and librarians.

“We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement,” Barry Christenson, school board president, said. “This contract successfully strikes a balance between meeting the needs of the BPFT members and our students while maintaining fiscal integrity for the district and its taxpayers.”

Under the terms of the new pact, health benefit premiums for most federation members will increase from 10% to 14% over the life of the agreement, and early retirement incentives are built into the contract.

Changes also were made to the salary schedule. Under the current deal, teachers receive raises in fairly consistent increments during periods of service time called steps. When they reach Step 17, the final level, they see a steep increase.

The new contract calls for a more gradual rise in salaries, which the district believes will help provide greater cost certainty in the budgeting process and aid in the attraction and retention of quality teachers.

Under the new salary schedule, first-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree will start at $53,175, with members of the top step earning $103,906. The new contract also provides a number of significant language changes that should provide greater transparency and increased flexibility for both sides, according to district officials.

Another key component of the new contract is a decrease in maximum class size at the elementary school level. There also are changes to the language regarding supplemental activity stipends.

“The Bethel Park Federation of Teachers is pleased to announce a contract that acknowledges the hard work of its members and their commitment to enhancing the educational experience of all students while being mindful of all constituents,” Bill Wells, federation president, said.

District finance director L. Douglas McCausland said he is pleased to reach an agreement that he thinks is fair to all parties.

“We are hopeful that the next three years under this contract will provide an environment where students and staff will feel supported and valued and the public will trust that its resources were very well spent,” he said.

Contract negotiations began in January. Teachers ratified the contract agreement April 25, and the school board approved it on the following day.

Negotiating on the district’s behalf were McCausland and Anthony Piscioneri, administrator for human resource services.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)