Methacton board ratifies four‑year contract with teachers’ association

The Methacton School District Board of Directors unanimously ratified a four‑year collective bargaining agreement with the Methacton Education Association on Nov. 25, 2025, that will take effect July 1, 2026, and run through June 30, 2030.

District presenter Doctor Regina told the board the contract includes annual salary matrix increases of 3.25% for 2026‑27, 3.00% for 2027‑28, 3.25% for 2028‑29 and 3.25% for 2029‑30 — a four‑year average increase of about 3.19% to the salary matrices. "This evening, we'll be presenting the MEA ratification to the collective bargaining agreement," she said while outlining other key terms.

The agreement shifts employee premium shares on health plans by 1 percentage point across choices; Doctor Regina said Open Choice 1 remains the most generous plan and other Open Choice options are comparatively less costly. The contract memorializes a special‑education stipend that had been paid informally: the district agreed to increase that stipend from $300 to $500.

Several non‑salary items were also included. The contract provides additional summer workdays for school psychologists (12 days at the per‑diem rate) and changed summer work provisions for counselors and social workers (varying by level and capped by role). Tuition‑reimbursement language was revised to increase the maximum reimbursement and to identify a list of universities whose short courses may not qualify, with exceptions for full master's programs that meet district standards.

The agreement creates a loyalty/retirement incentive for long‑service employees, described as up to about $100 per year of service with an approximate cap near $3,000 for someone with 30 years of service. Coach and sponsor compensation was restructured from a points‑based system to a clearer percent‑and‑band approach and standardized stipends to simplify future negotiations, the presenter said. Homebound instruction and direct supplemental instruction were set at $50 per hour, and mentor compensation was increased to $1,000 per mentor annually.

Board members commended administration and the association for reaching an "early bird" agreement. Board member Winters thanked administrators "especially Doctor Regina for working through the CBA agreement with the MEA," and other members praised the clarified coach/sponsor language and the removal of restrictive high‑school scheduling language.

The ratification motion was placed on the agenda as item 13d and approved by an 8–0 vote. The board also approved, under 'Other', a recommendation to retain King's Bridal (Bethlehem, Pa.) as special counsel when the district solicitor is unavailable (attorney rate $195/hour; paralegal $125/hour).

The contract will be implemented beginning July 1, 2026. The board did not record any dissenting votes during the meeting.