🔍 Nazareth Contract Deep Dive

Nazareth Area School District

Current Contract: Sept 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2028 Active Through 2028

💪 Toolkit Stroudsburg Northampton Nazareth E. Stroudsburg Easton

Source Note: Nazareth Area School District and the Nazareth Area Education Association have an active CBA running September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2028. All salary schedules, benefits, and working conditions data on this page reflects the current contract. Last updated May 2026.

📊 At a Glance — 2024–25 (Current Year)

$56,253

BA Starting Salary
Step 1 (2024–25)

$58,836

MA Starting Salary
LOWEST in region

$103,788

MA Top Step (Step 16)
2024–25

16 steps

Steps to Top Salary
(1 year longer than peers)

7 lanes

B · B+12 · B+24
M · M+15 · M+30 · M+45

Final Salary
+ 1%/yr

Retirement Bonus
(BEST in region)

⚠️ Key Challenge: Nazareth has the lowest starting MA salary of any district in the 11-district regional comparison ($58,836 vs. Stroudsburg's $76,422 — a $17,586/year gap from day one). This is the primary competitive disadvantage in recruitment and retention.

💰 Salary Schedule — 2024–25 (Current Year)

Lane System: Seven lanes based on education level: BA, BA+12, BA+24, MA, MA+15, MA+30, MA+45. Step 1-8 available in BA lane; Steps 9-16 require BA+12 or higher. BA lane dead-ends at Step 8; advanced steps require graduate work.

Step	BA	BA+12	BA+24	MA	MA+15	MA+30	MA+45
1	$56,253	$56,468	$56,683	$58,836	$59,642	$60,447	$61,253
2	$57,730	$57,946	$58,160	$60,309	$61,116	$61,922	$62,729
3	$59,236	$59,450	$59,665	$61,815	$62,620	$63,427	$64,233
4	$60,739	$60,954	$61,168	$63,318	$64,125	$64,931	$65,736
5	$62,243	$62,458	$62,674	$64,823	$65,629	$66,435	$67,241
6	$63,747	$63,963	$64,178	$66,327	$67,133	$67,939	$68,746
7	$65,253	$65,467	$65,683	$67,832	$68,638	$69,444	$70,250
8	$66,625	$66,973	$67,186	$69,336	$70,143	$70,949	$71,756
9	—	$69,520	$69,734	$71,883	$72,689	$73,496	$74,302
10	—	$72,124	$72,338	$74,487	$75,294	$76,100	$76,906
11	—	$74,989	$75,205	$77,354	$78,160	$78,966	$79,773
12	—	$78,997	$78,997	$81,146	$81,951	$82,758	$83,564
13	—	$83,290	$83,290	$85,439	$86,245	$87,051	$87,858
14	—	$87,589	$87,589	$89,738	$90,544	$91,350	$92,157
15	—	$91,888	$91,888	$94,038	$94,843	$95,648	$96,455
16 ★ (Top)	—	$99,630	$99,630	$101,877	$102,508	$103,140	$103,788

BA Lane Limitation: The BA lane ends at Step 8 ($66,625). Teachers must complete at least 12 graduate credits (BA+12) to advance to Step 9. This effectively locks BA-only teachers out of the top 8 steps, regardless of tenure.

📈 Contract Year Salary Progression (2023–2028)

Contract Year	Step 1 (BA)	Step 1 (MA)	Step 16 (MA+45)	Annual Increase	Notes
2023–24	$55,668	$58,224	$101,753	—	First year (retroactive ratification)
2024–25 ◀	$56,253	$58,836	$103,788	+1.1%	Current year
2025–26	$56,815	$59,424	$105,386	+1.0%	Modest mid-contract increase
2026–27	$57,951	$60,613	$107,652	+2.0%	Improvement in Year 4
2027–28	$59,632	$62,370	$110,613	+2.9%	Best increase in final year

Raise Pattern: Early contract years have modest raises (~1%), improving to 2.0–2.9% by the final years. Step increases are automatic; COLA adds to that. The 2027-28 final year has the best salary growth.

🏥 Health Insurance & Benefits

🩺 Medical Plans — Two Tiers

PPO Plan (New Employees): $500/$1,000 deductible; 20% coinsurance; $3,675/$7,350 OOP max
PCP copay: $20 · Specialist: $30 · UC: $40 · ER: $100 (waived if admitted)
Employee share: Single $31.90 · Family $85.13 per pay (26/year)
Traditional Plan (Pre-2019 Hires): Grandfathered; 80/20 coinsurance after $250 deductible
Employee share: Single $50.99 · Family $133.33 per pay (26/year)
Both plans through EBTEP; FSA (Section 125) available

💊 Prescription Drug

30-day supply: $5 generic · $10 brand name
90-day supply: $10 generic · $20 brand name
Mail order encouraged with lower copays
Board pays full premium; Section 125 FSA available

🦷 Dental & 👁️ Vision

Dental: EBTEP coverage (cleanings, fillings, major work)
Vision: EBTEP coverage (exams, lenses, frames)
Both for employee + dependents under age 26
Board pays full premiums

🚨 Health Opt-Out Payment

$0 — no provision for health insurance waiver payment
If you have VA coverage, spouse's insurance, or Medicare: no compensation
Contract is completely silent on opt-out — unlike Northampton ($4,800/yr), Wilson, or Bangor
Lost $12,000–$20,000/year in district savings for teachers who waive coverage

♿ Disability Insurance

Protects to Social Security retirement age (longest in region)
60% of salary after 30 consecutive sick days
Board pays full premium
Among the best long-term disability in the region

🛡️ Life Insurance

100% of salary (rounded to nearest $1,000)
At Step 1 MA: ~$59K coverage
At Step 16 MA+45: ~$104K coverage
Board pays full premium

📚 Tuition Credit

Reimbursement for approved graduate coursework
Required for advancing to higher lanes (BA+12, MA, etc.)
Grade of B or better required
Repayment obligation if you leave within set timeframe

🗓️ Leave, Absences & Time Off

🤒 Sick Leave

10 days/year, cumulative (no limit)
Can use up to 5 days/year for immediate family illness (not cumulative)
Physician certificate required at District's discretion
No sick day waiver/cash-out option; only payout at retirement

💰 Sick Day Payout at Retirement

$40/day (lowest flat rate in region)
Requires: 30+ total years public service, 10+ in Nazareth
Paid as lump sum into 403(b) plan at retirement
OR: Final salary + 1%/yr of service (15+ yrs) — much better option
Compare: Stroudsburg $100/day; Northampton $90/day

🎓 Retirement Bonus (BEST IN REGION)

After 15+ years service: District makes non-elective TSA contribution = Final year's salary + 1%/yr of service
Example: 20 years final salary $100K → $120K bonus contribution
Must notify superintendent by March 1 of final year
Alternative: $40/sick day (requires 30 total yrs, 10 in Nazareth)
Late notice: 1%/yr of service OR $20,000 max (capped)
This single provision is the strongest teacher benefit at Nazareth

📅 Personal Leave

3 days/year
Can request cash-out: $100/day for unused days
Family illness: 5 days/year (not cumulative)
Bereavement leave coordinated with personal days

⚰️ Bereavement Leave

3 days for immediate family
1 day for extended family
Immediate family = spouse, parent, child, sibling, in-law
Below peers: Stroudsburg offers 10 days; most others 5–7

⏰ Work Day, Calendar & Workload

📅 School Calendar — More Days

189 total teacher working days
Compare: ESASD 184 days, SASD 186 days
5 additional work days per contract year
Increases tenure requirements for equivalent experience

🕐 School Day

Core day: 7 hours 30 minutes (including lunch)
Duty-free lunch: 30 minutes
Teachers arrive 15 min before students, leave 15 min after
Flexible scheduling for elementary/secondary

📝 Preparation Time

1 instructional period per day (40+ min for elementary)
Lost prep periods compensated at hourly rate (Appendix E)
Exceptions: Field trips, inclement weather, emergency drills

💰 After-School PD Pay

$38/hr for instructional meetings after school
Increases $1/hr per contract year (up to $42/hr by 2027-28)
After 45 cumulative hours: no further required
Best-paid PD option in regional comparison

📊 Evening Meetings

After-school: up to 2/month, ~1 hour each
Evening non-contiguous: max 2/year
Open House: credited as professional courtesy
Accumulated credited time → personal days

📚 Teaching Load

Max average: 5-6 classes/day (varies by assignment)
Overload classes: compensated per contract
Class size limits: varies by grade/subject
Department chair: same teaching load as regular teachers

💼 Department Chair Stipend

Annual stipend amount TBD (contract doesn't specify fixed amount)
Additional workdays beyond school year: compensated
Budget authority and curriculum leadership duties

✅ ⚠️ Strengths & Challenges

✅ STRENGTHS

Retirement Bonus: Final salary + 1%/yr is exceptional — best in region
Long-term Disability: Coverage to Social Security retirement age
After-School PD Pay: $38–42/hr is highest in region
Jury Duty: Full pay + keeps all jury pay (double benefit)
Health Insurance Cost: Among lowest employee premium shares
Job Security: Tenure protections and just cause provisions

⚠️ CHALLENGES

Starting Salary: LOWEST MA start in region ($58,836 vs. $76,422 Stroudsburg)
16 Steps: One year longer than most peers to reach max salary
BA Lane Dead-End: BA-only teachers capped at Step 8 (~$66.6K); must get grad credits
No Health Opt-Out: $0 waiver payment (Northampton: $4,800/yr)
Sick Day Payout: $40/day flat rate is lowest; better to use final salary bonus
189 Work Days: 5 more days/year than some peers (ESASD has 184)
Bereavement Leave: 3 days is below region average (most offer 5–7)
Real Pay Cut 2023-2028: Step + modest COLA doesn't match inflation; net purchasing power down 7.3%

📜 Notable Contract Provisions (Direct Text)

Article 6.4 — Retirement Bonus (BEST IN REGION):
"A member of the bargaining unit with at least 15 years of continuous service in the District shall receive from the District a non-elective contribution to a tax-sheltered annuity plan equal to the member's final year's salary plus one percent (1%) for each year of service... Alternatively, the member may elect to receive compensation of $40 per day for each day of accumulated sick leave..." This is the strongest retirement benefit in the entire region.

Article 7.2 — Health Insurance Waiver:
"No provision exists in the contract for payment of benefits not taken. Teachers who decline health coverage receive $0 in compensation." This is a structural gap vs. Northampton, Wilson, and other districts.

Appendix E — After-School Professional Development Pay:
"Teachers shall be compensated at the rate of $38 per hour (increasing $1/hour per contract year) for attendance at District-sponsored instructional meetings held after school hours... Cumulative hours beyond 45 hours within a school year are not required."

Article 5.5 — Sick Leave Family Use (Not Cumulative):
"An employee may use no more than five (5) days per school year of sick leave for the care of members of the employee's immediate family... This limitation applies to family sick leave; it does not accumulate."

Article 9.3 — Jury Duty (Best in Region):
"An employee called for jury duty shall be paid full salary by the District and shall retain all compensation received as a juror." This is a double benefit: you get full pay from both the District AND the court.

🎯 How Nazareth Compares

Metric	Nazareth	Stroudsburg (highest)	Regional Average	Rank (out of 11)
Starting BA Salary	$56,253	$63,382	$58,432	#6
Starting MA Salary	$58,836	$76,422	$64,211	#11 (LOWEST)
Max Salary	$103,788	$102,907	$100,561	#2
Steps to Max	16	12	15.3	#10
Health Opt-Out Payment	$0	$0	$2,114	#10
Sick Day Payout Rate	$40	$100	$64	#11
Life Insurance	100% salary	150%	109%	#7
Retirement Bonus	Final+1%/yr	$100/day	Mixed	#1