ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown school teachers will see pay raises in the next school year.
The Allentown School Board ratified a new contract with the teacher's union, the Allentown Education Association, Thursday night. It is a four-year agreement that will run through the end of the 2026-2027 school year.
- Allentown teachers and the district agreed on a new, four-year contract
- Salaries will rise by nearly 4.7%
- The raises will take effect at the start of 2023-24 school year
Teachers will see their pay rise by about 4.7% in the first year, which will show up in the first paycheck for the 2023-2024 school year. Starting teacher pay was boosted to $54,743.
“We are thrilled to have reached a timely agreement with the members of the Allentown Education Association,” said District Superintendent Carol Birks. “There is no greater lever that impacts student achievement than a teacher."
In year one of the contract, which starts Sept. 1st, teachers see a 4.69% wage increase. In year two, there's a 3.99% pay rise, in year three, it's a 3.44% boost, and in the last year, which is 2026-27, they will get a 3% rise. Teachers will also receive a "step movement" for every year of the contract — steps represent years of service and help determine salary range.
Teachers and former Superintendent John Stanford signed a retroactive contract last year after the union went for more than two years without reaching an agreement. That deal expires next month. Last year's agreement drove starting pay to more than $52,000. The prior contract to that one expired in August 2020.
"There is no greater lever that impacts student achievement than a teacher."Superintendent Carol Birks
“After two very difficult negotiations, we are very pleased to have been able to come to a four-year contract settlement that will benefit the educators and their families while also being fiscally responsible to the district, " AEA President Leslie Franklin said. “This agreement allows us to stay competitive in the Lehigh Valley to attract and retain much-needed staff in order for us to do our best work with students.
Teacher salaries in Allentown are lower than in some surrounding school districts. According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the average full-time teacher salary in the Allentown School District for 2021-2022 was $68,601. Bethlehem Area School District was $74,464, Parkland School District was $86,261 and Southern Lehigh School District was $86,313 for the same time period.
A copy of the contract wasn't immediately available at the meeting. Officials said it would be posted online Friday.
