Jim Thorpe Area School District approved a five-year contract Monday with Teamsters Local Union 773, covering custodial, food service and maintenance employees in the district from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.

According to board President Mary Figura, negotiations were productive and completed without issue.

“I was part of the committee working on this contract with the union,” Figura said. “It went very smoothly and we were able to hash it out pretty quickly. I want to thank them for the time and cooperation.”

The agreement lays out terms regarding wages, hours, job classifications, benefits, grievance procedures and other employment conditions for union members.

Wages and hours

Employees in the bargaining unit will receive scheduled hourly increases across five steps. For example, a custodian or food service employee at Step 1 will earn $16 per hour in 2025-26, increasing to $18 by 2029-30. Those at Step 5 will receive $23 per hour in 2025-26, rising to $27 by the final year of the contract.

Substitute wages are fixed at $1 less than the lowest applicable step each year.

Custodians will have the option of working either five consecutive 8-hour days or four 10-hour days per week, both with a half-hour paid lunch. Food service employees working full-time also receive a paid half-hour lunch break.

The contract outlines a summer schedule where the district may shut down on Fridays. Employees who opt into working four 10-hour days will have any days off during this schedule deducted at a rate of 10 hours from their leave time. Those who do not opt in and are not required for events will only be paid for 32 hours during weeks when the district is closed on Fridays.

Custodians called into work outside their regular schedule will receive a minimum of 2.5 hours of pay at the overtime rate. Overtime must be posted five days in advance and awarded by seniority.

Health benefits

Employees will have a choice among three health insurance options:

Plan 1 has a $500 in-network individual deductible and $1,000 family deductible. Premium contributions for individuals start at $68 in Year 1 and increase to $85 in Year 5. For dependent coverage, the contribution starts at $111 and increases to $131.

Plan 2 has a $1,000 individual/$2,000 family deductible with additional co-insurance. Premium contributions start at $25 for individuals and $50 for dependents in Year 1, rising to $45 and $70 respectively by Year 5.

Plan 3, a Qualified High Deductible Plan with an associated Health Savings Account, starts in Year 2. The district will contribute 100% of the deductible in Year 2, decreasing to 50% in Years 4 and 5. The premium for employees under this plan is $35 per month, with retirees paying $100.

Employees who decline health coverage due to alternate insurance may receive a $200 monthly buyout.

Other provisions

The contract establishes a grievance procedure with four escalating steps, concluding with arbitration if necessary.

A lead custodian position will be established in each building, with a $1,500 annual stipend. Job descriptions will be created for all departments, including a new maintenance role to be introduced before the end of the agreement.

The district agrees not to subcontract custodial or maintenance work until after June 30, 2025, but retains the right to subcontract food service operations to companies such as Nutrition Inc.

Each full-time employee retiring after 20 years of service in the district is eligible for six years of individual medical coverage until age 65 or Medicare eligibility. Retirees contribute $100 per month toward premiums.