PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The School District of Philadelphia has reached a tentative contract with its principals, which the union says restores some of the concessions principals made to help the district through a financial crisis.
Public school principals have been working without a contract since Aug. 31. This contract gives them 11% in raises and $2,500 in bonuses over the next four years.
However, Robin Cooper, president of the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators, Teamsters Local 502, believes the decrease in the cost of health care for her members is perhaps the most significant change.
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“When the district was really in dire straits, we wanted to help out, and so we began paying into the health care,” she said. “It was really the worst thing we could have ever done.”
That was eight years ago, when the school district was in such profound financial trouble that it asked teachers and principals to take cuts in pay and benefits.
Cooper said principals ended up paying huge premiums, and, for two contracts, the district did not keep its promise to restore benefits. She continued to press the issue.
“Our theme was reflect, restore and rebuild, and so we think that with this contract, we’ve done that,” she said.
Cooper said there’s also an increase in funding for professional development and the establishment of a labor-management committee to address safety and staffing concerns.
The district said it is pleased that the contract “honors our amazing leaders and the wonderful work they do.”
The contract covers 800 school administrators.
