EAST PALESTINE Contract

Provisions of the new three-year contract between the East Palestine School District and its teachers union:
SALARIES
Starting teachers: Was $25,021; now, $25,772; to $26,545 in 2003-04; to $27,342 in 2004-05.
Top of the pay scale, teachers with a master's degree plus 15 hours or more of additional training: Was $50,043; now, $51,545; to $53,091 in 2003-04 and to $54,684 in 2004-05.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Teachers are under a PPO program. Teachers hired July 1, 1996, or after pay 10 percent of health-care premiums and the district pays 90 percent within the PPO. Teachers pay 30 percent of premiums and the district 70 percent outside the network.
Monthly premiums within the PPO are $150 for single coverage and $300 for family coverage. Premiums outside the network are $300 for single coverage and $600 for family coverage.
Teachers hired July 1, 1996, or after will pay premiums for four years, down from 10 years under the previous agreement. Under both the old and new contracts, teachers hired before July 1, 1996, do not contribute.
Under the old agreement, health-care coverage was $393 for single coverage and $943 for family coverage.
Teachers will also receive a prescription card and will pay $5 for a generic drug, $10 for a brand-name drug on a provider list, and $20 for any brand-name drug not on the list.
SICK DAYS
Teachers continue to receive 15 paid sick days per year. They can accumulate up to 270 days, up from 260 under the old contract.
Teachers may use paid sick days for the death of an aunt or uncle.
GENERAL
Teachers agreed to a smoke-free workplace, including school grounds.