Board Divided Over Act 93 Agreement Discussion

By Christopher Miller

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – A lengthy discussion ensued during Thursday night’s Work session when the agenda line item pertaining to Act 93 Work Agreement was up for discussion.

Act 93 pertains to the compensation plan between the school board and district administrators and non-instructional administrators beginning July 1, 2026 and expiring June 30, 2031.

The compensation plan, among other things, provides for a 3% salary increase annually among the five years the plan is in effect.

As well, employee contributions to healthcare at the beginning of the contract will be 7.99% except for employees earning less than $85,000, who will in turn contribute 3.99%. Once the rates are calculated, they will remain the contribution for the life of the contract. Employees who reach the $85,000 threshold during the life of the contract will pay the flat rate associated with 7.99% once the salary threshold is reached.

Lastly as was discussed in the meeting, administrators employed one or before June 30, 2026 shall receive individual health insurance coverage for eight calendar years upon retirement. Administrators employed on or after July 1, 2026 will receive five years of individual coverage upon retirement. Coverage must be used immediately upon the date of retirement and may not be deferred.

These provisions in the Act 93 agreement caused an uproar among some school board members during Thursday’s meeting.

School board member Chris Scaff questioned Roger Elling, asking when this was originally brought to the board. Elling cited that it had been the subject of “numerous executive sessions” that turned into “informational meetings” due to a lack of a quorum being reached by the board members present.

Scaff mentioned that the Pennsylvania Principals Association recommends that the Act 93 contracts should be “started to be talked about in January or February” rather than October, especially since this is an election year.

“Why are we doing this now, we are tying the hands of the board with the new board members coming in soon if they get elected,” Scaff said.

Elling referred to this as an “early bird contract”, due to it being up for discussion and vote months ahead of the recommendation of the PA Principals Association.

“You’re wanting to start next year already in the hole by putting this big contract out, open for anybody hired as an administrator to get eight years of health benefits upon retiring. You want to hog tie the board with this through 2031 and run this district into bankruptcy. I say we should let the new board deal with it in January and February when the Association says it should be done.,” Scaff added.

“Maybe the public wants a change in the way that business is being done,” board member Dr. Bill Baldino said.

“Act 93 provides for fairness for district employees not able to participate in the collective bargaining unit. I believe the current proposal prior to the installment of whoever will be elected who will be responsible for a majority of its tenure is inappropriate and immoral. I believe this should be tabled until after December 1 and if it comes to a vote, Jeff Johnston should recuse himself since his career was as an administrator and his ability to make this decision should be questioned.”

Johnston then spoke up, saying that board members should have “shown up” to the executive sessions when the Act 93 people were presenting.

“You chose not to show up. I cannot help that. That was your decision.”

Scaff then referenced a weekly update email written by Superintendent Dr. Redmon during the week of September 2, mentioned that a team has started to look at how to trim $3.6 million from next year’s budget, amounting to the possibility of “severe cuts to staffing resulting in increased class sizes, eliminating support for improvement and growth, and reducing support from the central office.”

Dr. Baldino then accused Elling of “hiding things that should be in the public behind an executive session.

“According to PSBA and our solicitor, it is the best practice to use an executive session if it deals with personnel compensation, with the Sunshine Act saying it can be done publicly at the end. Act 93 says that evaluations, administrator compensation are within the personnel domain and we are in our purview to do that,” Elling explained.

Board member Tracy Smith provided some figures, saying that the 3% salary increase over five years would amount to $405,000 total with administrators contributing about $93,000 to healthcare. She also cited that Williamsport Area School District is increasing administrator salaries by 5% next year, and Jersey Shore Area School District by 3%.

Board member Elisabeth Lynch added that the contract is missing performance evaluations, and how every employee in the district automatically gets a raise.

“Raises should be tied to performance evaluations,” she added.

“Is this the legacy you want to go out on, potentially sabotaging the district before you go out the door,” board member Tom Cannon asked. “After your years of dedication, is this what you want to go out on?

Smith said that, “$62,000 a year (after increases and healthcare) will not sabotage the district. I am fine with showing our administrators we respect them and care for them.”

The discussion ended with Elisabeth Lynch recommending that new board members receive Act 93 training, saying she had to personally learn it herself on her own time.

“I still need more training on this,” she said. “There is not a chance that I will ever vote for this. Let’s discuss it in January 2026.”