The Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education in a special meeting Monday, Sept. 9, unanimously approved a three-year employment contract with the Lenape District Education Association.
The LDEA, which represents approximately 850 teachers and other certificated staff including school counselors, child study team professionals, media specialists, nurses and athletic trainers, as well as administrative support staff, interpreters and paraprofessionals, ratified the contract on Sept. 4.
The three-year agreement includes an average salary increase of 2.3 percent and was updated to be compliant with current statutes governing public employee contributions to health insurance.
“It was important to get the contract negotiations behind us and start off the new school year in the right frame of mind,” said LRHSD Board Member John Heitmann, Jr., who chairs the negotiations committee. “The staff worked well with us to get this done. And, the students and community will continue to benefit from the quality teachers, staff and programs the Lenape District is known for.”
According to LDEA President John Faubl, the contract received overwhelming support from the association’s members.
“Approving the agreement at the start of the school year is a big morale boost for our members. We take great pride in our work and now we can put all of our energies into teaching, instead of negotiating a contract,” Faubl said.