Mars Area School Board voted unanimously in favor of a six-year agreement with the Mars Area Education Association (MAEA) teachers union.

The MAEA membership also approved the agreement, which retroactively takes effect on July 1, 2020, continues through June 30, 2026.

The contract includes a wage freeze with supplemental payments of $1,850 for the 2020-2021 School Year and salary increases of 3.25 percent in 2021-2022, 4 percent in 2022-2023 and 4.25 percent in each of the subsequent three years. In addition, supplemental wages will increase by 2 percent each year, beginning with the 2021-2022 School Year. 

The agreement also decreases the District's annual contribution to employee’s health savings accounts; provides compensation for teachers who lose a scheduled planning period during the students' instructional day; establishes a Live-Stream Interactive (LSI) Committee to determine the use of LSI Instruction in upcoming school years; increases the District’s Tuition Assistance Plan for those teachers who choose to continue their educationl and establishes one-time stipends for sponsors or directors supervising students who advance to regional and state PMEA competitions. 

(For a more detailed summary of the MAEA contract, visit  https://4.files.edl.io/9cc2/05/11/21/234225-b2e4fc38-ac40-4ad1-a9f9-ea7d8809080e.pdf).

Anyone interested in viewing the teachers’ contract, once it has been finalized, may complete and submit a “Right to Know” request form. The form is available under the “Our District” link on Mars Area School District’s website, www.marsk12.org, or may be obtained at the District’s Administration Office, 545 Route 228, Mars, Pa. 16046.