Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) teachers have been working nearly six months without a contract. BASD Board of School Directors finally reached a break-through at their Jan. 28 meeting, however, and approved a new three-year contract for the district's 1,033 teachers. The previous contract expired August 2014.

"Negotiations began in January 2014 and wrapped up this month," said Michael Faccinetto, BASD school board president, via email. "I think the time frame is about average for such a large complicated contract. Negotiations were very professional all throughout and both sides are very pleased with the deal."

Parties involved were pleased overall with the outcome of the agreements reached including the board's unanimous vote to expand full-day kindergarten in all 16 of its elementary schools, making BASD the largest Lehigh Valley school district to offer universal full-day kindergarten.

The new contract will also include the addition of 15 minutes of instructional time to each school day, the equivalent of six additional school days of instruction, over the course of the school year.

"We began this process a little over a year ago and neither side chose to negotiate in public or the media," Faccinetto said during his closing statement on the negotiation at the school board meeting. "We focused on what matters: the needs of our teachers and students. We, as a board and administration, respect our teachers and thank them for the important work they do each and every day."

One highlight of the new contract will include a salary freeze in the 2014-15 school year, but a 3.1 percent total salary increase in the 2015-16 school year and a 2.9 percent total increase the final year of the contract for a 2 percent total average per year increase over the life of the agreement.

In establishing this salary freeze, the board hopes to avoid inevitably having to let teachers go before the end of the school year.

"This agreement provides for our teachers, but recognizes the external pressures from Harrisburg," Faccinetto said. "The reality is we would all like to do more, but have agreed to a fair contract for teachers, the district and taxpayers alike."

Bethlehem Education Association negotiators took into account every teacher's best interest while drawing up and negotiating the contract. Several Freedom HS teachers spoke either publicly at the board meeting or have expressed concern with some of the contract's major provisions, including the 2014-15 salary freeze and increased health care cost.

Union President Jolene Vitalos commented previously in The Morning Call that teachers agreed to the salary freeze and the health care increases because they understand the financial difficulties facing school districts, such as rising pension costs.

"I am glad that an agreement was reached and it's nice to have a contract again," said Carol Lee, FHS guidance counselor. "I expected a higher deductible for health care to be put in place, but I'm happy a decision was reached because I know they worked hard for a very long time,"

Several FHS teachers declined comment on the contract.