Raises wages 15 percent months after district lays off 15 teachers
SOMERS POINT — The Board of Education approved a four-year contract agreement with the Somers Point Education Association on June 26.
The contract will increase salaries and wages by more than 15 percent over its term, nearly two months after the school district cut 15 staff positions and raised the tax rate 5.49 percent to deal with rising health care, labor and facilities costs coupled with dwindling state aid.
The positions included teachers, substitutes and paraprofessionals from clerical to custodial. Additionally, the district postponed or canceled capital projects and cut supply lines by 20 percent, then had to trim another $100,000.
The $19.9 million budget for 2025-26, adopted May 1, calls for a tax levy of $12.1 million and a tax rate increase of 4.2 cents to $1.12 per $100 of assessed value. The owner of a $300,000 home will see an annual increase of $126 to $2,415 in local school taxes.
Board of Education President Staci Endicott said it was important to the board, administration and Somers Point Education Association that workers leave the school year knowing there was going to be a contract for them when they return.
The contract includes salary increases of 3.6 percent, 3.75 percent, 3.8 percent and 3.8 percent for certificated staff and 3.7 percent, 3.85 percent, 3.9 percent and 3.9 percent for secretarial, custodial and non-certificated staff. Teachers lose 10 minutes of non-instructional time for assigned duties, Endicott said.
SPEA President Giannine DiSciascio said the agreement shows the positive rapport that the board has with the education association in Somers Point.
“The SPEA would like to extend our sincere thanks to every member of our board’s negotiations team. Each meeting was conducted with professional communication as we exchanged proposals,” she said. “We are all working hard to maintain excellence in education in a climate of shrinking budgets.”
The board’s negotiating team consisted of Judd Moore, solicitor Amy Houck Elco, Business Administrator Mark Leung, Joyce Klemic, Emerald Hornig and Alice Myers. The SPEA was represented by DiSciascio, Julie Parker, Jen Rowe, Carly Decker, Carley Cross, Dave Laut, Nancy Mensch and Tim Johnson.
“While neither group got everything they asked for, what stood out was the respect for each person in the room and for the process,” DiSciascio said. “This has sent a strong message to our membership of the board’s continued commitment to the best interests of our community.”
The district has been struggling with its budgets for years, largely due to a dwindling supply of state aid. Under the Student Funding Reform Act of 2018, the district lost more than $4 million to just $2 million for 2024-25. It saw a loss of another $65,000 for 2025-26.
Last year, facing more than $1 million in aid cuts, the district was able to raise the tax levy 8.5 percent and tax rate 8.78 cents while using the additional monies to fund three teachers, basic supplies, technology and capital projects while cutting nine staff positions.
In other business, the board accepted the resignation of Jordan Road School Principal Ken Berardis.
The Linwood resident joined the district in 2024 after working as assistant principal at Smithville Elementary School since 2015. Prior to that, he served an administration internship at Joseph A. Shaner Elementary School in Mays Landing from 2014-15.
“The timing has left us without a principal at a critical time period. Summer is when planning for next year takes place,” Endicott said. “Now we are exploring options expeditiously to put leadership in place at Jordan Road School for the start of the year.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
