President's Welcome
Kevin Deely,EAEA President
Welcome to the Easton Area Education Association. We are an organization of over 750 teachers, guidance counselors, school nurses, librarians and school psychologists working together in the Easton Area School District.
Fixing the Crisis
The importance of a quality education is more crucial today than at any other time in our history. Few would disagree that we are in a transformative period, especially as it relates to the economy. We are shifting from a consumer economy to a producer economy. This shift has huge implications for how we educate our children and the investments we make in education.
Our teachers in Easton are well trained, and the Easton Area School District has made significant investments in recruitment and staff development to face these new challenges head-on. These investments have paid dividends, and the district now receives applications from hundreds of new, superbly qualified individuals who want to work in our schools. Our teachers are committed to serving the students of this district, and believe it is imperative that the Easton schools do all that they can to properly prepare this generation of students for whatever challenges they may face.
The Association believes that the administration of the Easton Area School District has the same goal as we do: Putting the education of our children first. The district should not cut staff to achieve this goal - administrative staff, or otherwise. The district should not cut advanced educational programs, or increase class size to achieve this goal either. There are myriad other ways the district can save, and we believe our concerns are starting to be heard!
Let's continue to work together to make sure each child in this community has access to the best education. Let's work together to maintain our well-trained staff. Our teachers have some great ideas on how to make our schools better, and how to save the district money in the process - let our ideas be heard! Yes, change is coming to this district; that is to be expected in this dynamic and global economy. Our educators are reasonable individuals who respond well to reasoned change, all we ask for is a real dialogue; not lip-service.
Our working relationships have been strained by threats and demands, and the only victims have been the children. This needs to end before the damage is irreparable.
The Real Story on EASD Teacher Salaries
The Easton Area School District is blaming the current teacher contract for its budgetary challenges. This concern is not based in reality, and in fact, over the last sixteen years the Easton taxpayers have been repeatedly mislead regarding teacher salary figures and its subsequent budgetary impact. Easton teachers received an average of 2.47% less than the raise that was reported by the district to the public over the last sixteen years. For example: if our total raise was reported to be 5%, we really only received 2.53%, and despite the reports to the contrary, our average teacher salary is currently the second lowest in the county! Further, in the previous contract - 2004-2008 - the district's total cost for raises, three of the four contract years, was 4.22%, or an average of 1.4% a year. This is nowhere near the 4.6% annual average that was budgeted for teacher salaries. (2007-08 years are unavailable at this time).
What is really causing the Easton Area School District's current budget crisis? It is certainly NOT the teachers' contract that is to blame. The district has one of the largest fund balances in the State - (a "rainy day" fund of taxpayer money), is continually adding multi-million dollar building projects. Also, they have just created several new high salary administrative positions, and though it cut several lower paid administrative jobs, these new jobs will NOT save the district money. Meanwhile, the district will receive additional millions of dollars from the Federal Stimulus Education Investment money to help offset the burden on our taxpayers. For sixteen years, much of the money that the district budgeted for teacher salaries was not spent on salaries; where did all that money go?
What must also be noted is that the district is proposing these cuts not because it is in trouble NOW, but because it might FACE budget challenges in three years. All indications are that the Easton Area School District is currently in one of the BEST financial positions in the State, and will be for several years.
The facts don't lie. It is not the teachers' fault they are in this mess; it is the districts extravagant spending habits that are to blame.
See this table for the real cost of teacher salaries to the district. table
The figures in this table come from and are tabulated by information supplied by the EASD business office as reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
This document from PDE outlines how school districts may use the Federal Stimulus Dollars
Community Impact Fund
Easton teachers are committed to helping the community through
charitable donations.
If you are a non-profit organization that helps children in the Easton community,
read more.
Recent Awards
- Art and Literacy Empowerment Center afterschool program
- Boy Scouts of America Minsi Trails Council Settlers Camp Technology Initiative
- Salvation Army Learning Zone afterschool program
- The National Canal Museum’s Mini-Immersion Days Program for hands-on history and student learning
- view all
EAEA President Speaks on District Budget Concerns
Eastonteachers.org email
Fight for our schools
EAEA Members in Action!
Contacting Us
Mailing Address
610-258-8862 [phone] 610-258-8864 [fax]
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