Teachers say OK to contract

PALMER — Members of the Matanuska Susitna Education Association are one step closer to having a new contract after the 1,150-member group recently ratified a two-year agreement.

MSEA President George Stuart said while some teachers expressed concern over the new contract, most are happy. The tricky aspect during this year's negotiations with the Mat-Su Borough School District is the rapid pace of inflation, Stuart said.

“Prices are going up,” Stuart said. “If you settle for a fixed amount and costs go above a fixed amount, that’s tough.”

If the two-year contract is approved by the Mat-Su Borough School Board, teachers will receive a 4-percent pay increase during the first year and a 3.75-percent increase in the second. Two days will be added to the school year to prepare for parent conferences. Health benefits will be the same as in the previous contract, with a cap requiring employees to pay anything over a 12-percent increase.

The board will vote on the contract Wednesday. School district spokeswoman Catherine Esary said the board has been largely supportive of the MSEA contract.

“I don’t think there’ll be anything they would not support,” Esary said.