By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

(May 28, 2020) The Worcester County Public Schools Board of Education signed and approved a ratified 2020-2021 contract agreement between the Worcester County Teachers Association and the Worcester County Educational Support Personnel Association on Tuesday, May 19.

The agreement was presented by Supervisor of Human Resources Dr. Dwayne Abt during the board of education teleconferenced meeting.

Lou Taylor

Normally, the signing would have taken place at the same time, but according to Abt, signatures were obtained prior to the teleconference.

We did have some language modifications, edits and additions, he said.

According to the agreement, the teachers contract has been agreed upon for one step increase to eligible employees and a 2 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA).

The contract will also offer step increases to eligible employees in a 2.5 percent COLA in the food service scales that will be adjusted to meet the minimum wage requirements by law over the next five years.

We also increased our longevity payment $100 from $1,300 to $1,400, Abt said. It is my pleasure to say that we have two signed agreements with our employees and Id like to thank Mr. Gary McCabe, Beth Shockley-Lynch and Mr. Ivory Smith, as well as the committees from the board as well as the association.

Shockley-Lynch, the president of the Worcester County Teachers Association, expressed her gratitude for the support of the agreement.

We would just like to thank the board in all of our support through all of this, she said. Our negotiated contract was ratified at 100 percent. I had no one that was displeased with it. We are very grateful to have the relationship with the board and with the leadership team. So thank you.

Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor also expressed his gratitude for the camaraderie between the organizations.

It is a pleasure to work with you, Mr. McCabe and Mr. Smith, Taylor said. Its been a true team effort through negotiations, and thats carried and even gotten deeper as weve gone through these uncertain times. So thank you for your partnership and for most importantly, keeping our kids first, and all of us doing the right things. It takes both sides and we appreciate that way of working together.

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