Officials hope new Carbondale contract helps attract, retain hard-to-find teachers

Jul. 7—As the national teacher shortage worsens, officials hope a new contract for Carbondale Area educators helps recruit and retain staff.

School directors approved the three-year agreement last week that raises salaries and decreases the number of years it takes for a teacher to reach top-scale pay.

The new contract comes after nine teachers resigned this year to take other jobs in education — including at higher paying school districts or cyber charter schools — and as more state money allows the district to pay higher salaries.

“They need teachers. They need to be able to recruit them and retain them,” said Jim Maria, the union’s representative from the Pennsylvania State Education Association and chief negotiator. “We all had the same goal, to make the salaries and benefits more attractive.”

The three-year contract, effective July 1, provides an average 5.14% raise each year. Teachers will receive raises of 2.74% in 2023-24, 2.93% in 2024-25 and 3.07% in 2025-26. The…