Hours of negotiating led to a new BVA contract

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Tenacity and persistence appear to be the key words in the Belle Vernon Area School District.

After more than a year of contract talks, including two marathon sessions this week, a tentative agreement was reached late Thursday night between the school district and the Belle Vernon Area Education Association. 

The terms of the five-year agreement will be disclosed once both sides have ratified it.

“The board’s goal was to achieve a contract that was fair, practical, reasonable and affordable to stakeholders, including teachers, students, taxpayers and the overall community,” said Joe Grata, the school board president. “The board has met that goal while continuing to carry out a mission of creating a strong, competitive and respected school district.”

The settlement came around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, about eight hours before a strike deadline set by the union, which represents 161 teachers, nurses, counselors and education specialists in the district. Negotiations  started in January 2019 and the last contract expired June 30, 2019.

“Our teachers were passionate about reaching an agreement with the board, and our negotiations team worked to get it done at the last minute,” said BVAEA President Daneen Watson, a Spanish teacher with 20 years in the district. “We are very pleased that we could get this hammered out for the benefit of everyone involved.”  

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