Note: The following joint news release was issued by Erie’s Public Schools and the Erie Education Association:
Today the Board of School Directors of Erie’s Public Schools approved a two-year extension of the district’s collective bargaining agreement with the Erie Education Association through June 30, 2026. Membership of the EEA, which represents 869 teachers, nurses, and mental health specialists, ratified the agreement on Wednesday.
Under the agreement, a 5.48 percent salary adjustment totaling $2.77 million will be distributed among the members of the Bargaining Unit. The adjustment brings the salary scale and overall wages into line with those of neighboring school districts, a critical step in creating the strong and stable workforce necessary for continued student success.
The district will use funding it received from the state, including the Level Up initiative, money earmarked for the state’s 100 most underfunded districts, to pay for the adjustment.
The extension and accompanying adjustment is a direct investment in the professional staff, one that recognizes their value to the district and to the lives of students and families. The salary and scale adjustment is also an essential tool to help recruit and retain teachers as educators continue to face unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic and recognizes that Erie’s Public Schools are competing for a declining population of teachers
Prior to the adjustment, the starting salary of an Erie’s Public Schools teacher with a bachelor’s degree was $43,679 — the second lowest among all Erie County districts. With the adjustment, a first-year Erie’s Public Schools teacher with a bachelor’s degree will earn a more competitive starting salary of $46,827. The average starting salary for teachers in Erie County is $46,909.
“With this extension and accompanying salary adjustment, Erie’s Public Schools is signaling our commitment to our current teachers and our commitment to attracting more game-changing educators to our classrooms, now and in the future,” Superintendent Brian Polito said. “Our teachers, our students and our community deserve nothing less.”
After years of financial crisis that brought the district to the brink of insolvency, the district has recovered and is now in a much stronger position, financially and operationally. The Pennsylvania Department of Education in September removed the district from financial watch status, an indication of the district’s improved financial health and outlook.
“Thanks to the support of the state and with the help of pandemic relief dollars, we’ve overhauled our curriculum, bolstered student supports, expanded the Community Schools model to help more students and families, and worked to make sure all of our buildings are warm, safe and dry spaces for our students to learn and our staff to work,” Polito said.
“This next step is about investing in our teachers and creating a competitive employment environment for the future. In doing so, we’re investing in our students and our community.”
“We appreciate the Erie School District’s efforts to re-invest in our schools, students, staff, and community,” said Erie Education Association President Mary Theuerkauf. “On behalf of the EEA, we are pleased that we were able to negotiate a contract extension where the district is providing a more competitive wage that will allow us to hire and retain more teachers. We look forward to continuing that work with the district to improve the quality of education in Erie.”
