PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In an unexpected move, the Philadelphia School District and its teachers union have agreed on a one-year contract extension.
The proposed extension keeps Philadelphia’s 13,000 teachers and support staff under contract until August 2025. It gives teachers a 5% salary hike and provides $1,200 bonuses for all teachers and $2,500 retention bonuses for teachers in hard-to-staff schools.
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan said the bonuses are an effort to keep teachers amid a nationwide shortage. With the raise, Philly teacher salaries would start at about $54,000.
“It was important for us to show … that there was going to be stability,” he said. “We need to be able to compete with surrounding districts. We need to retain the employees who are currently here in the system, and we need to recruit more.”
It’s a time of transition for the union, as Jordan plans to leave his post in June after 17 years as president — and for the district, with Mayor Cherelle Parker considering new school board members.
Superintendent Tony Watlington, in a statement, said the extension “reflects the deep value” the district has for PFT members, and the contract fairly supports teachers’ needs.
The union will meet to ratify the extension on March 6.