Allegheny-Clarion Valley School Board approved a new three-year contract with the district’s teachers union during the board’s regular voting meeting last month.
The measure passed by an 8-0-1 vote with board member Eric Sundling abstaining.
The contract includes a 2.8% pay increase for A-C Valley Education Association members along with changes to health insurance coverage.
The board decided to keep the post-retirement health coverage. Single members will be covered 12 years post-retirement, and couples with the insurance are covered for six years after retirement.
The new contract also eliminates the six hours of professional development or meetings required in previous contracts.
During the board’s work session on Jan. 10, board member Brady Feicht asked why the contract was three years instead of five.
Board President Kelly Terwilliger told Feicht the board wanted time to evaluate the insurance options the district is providing, and maintain coverage for staff while also looking to save the district money.
Terwilliger said she hopes within three years there will be better ideas for health insurance coverage, and it would be too long if the wait were to be five years.
Moreover, Terwilliger said the board’s negotiation team didn’t have time to investigate it for the current contract.
Football field
During the regular voting meeting, Union/A-C Valley football coaches Chris McNany and Ray Fox requested the board look into rehabilitating the high school football field.
A-C Valley hosts half of the Union/A-C Valley football games as part of the cooperative agreement with Union.
However, A-C Valley was not able to host either of the Union/A-C Valley playoff games in November due to poor field conditions.
A-C Valley Superintendent David McDeavitt informed the board it would have to move quickly on any rehabilitation project.
McDeavitt said the first thing the board would have to approve is an architect or engineer to assist with the design and development of the project, as well as determine the cost of the project. After the scope of the project is determined, the project would be put out for bid.
McDeavitt said if the board wants to do a full renovation of the field, it would likely require the field to be off-limits for a year. Whereas if the board just wants to level the field and lay turf, the project wouldn’t take as long.
Board Vice President Carrie Armagost and board member Jameen Stump were both in favor of the district moving forward with the preliminary steps of the project.
Feicht said he would like to see the difference in estimates between a full rehabilitation and just a leveling of the field and laying turf.