Two LV School Districts in Top 50 for Salaries

The Patriot News has complied a listing of the 50 highest-paying school districts in the state during the 2015-6 school year. This includes the entire staff, not just teachers. The Lehigh Valley has two school districts in the top 50.

#43 - PARKLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT (Lehigh County)

Average annual staff salary: $80,238
Total student enrollment: 9,170

34. CATASAUQUA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (Lehigh and Northampton counties)

Average annual staff salary: $82,867
Total student enrollment: 1,487

1. LOWER MERION SCHOOL DISTRICT (Montgomery County)

Average annual staff salary: $97,480
Total student enrollment: 8,388

Bethlehem Area School Directors to Vote On "Fair Share" Agreement Tonight

When Bethlehem's School Directors meet this evening, one of the agenda items listed is a 3-year collective bargaining agreement with the teachers' union. Though the agreement itself is absent, one of the items included is what is known as a "fair share" clause. This requires theschool district to withhold union dues from the salaries of all teachers and other professionals within a bargaining unit, regardless whether they are members. School Board President Michael Faccinetto explains that all the other collective bargaining agreements contain such a clause. Seventy per cent of all teacher contracts contain this kind of clause.

This is a controversial issue nationwide. One the one hand, why should a union be required to provide representation to someone who won't pay dues? But why should teachers be forced to contribute to unions who take their money to support candidates that individual teachers oppose? I have no answer. If anything, I would tend to side with the union on this issue.

What I do know is that good government requires transparency. It appears to me that no notice has been given to the public concerning this clause. This issue deserves more scrutiny.

Clarification: By law, union dues paid by nonmembers may not be used for campaign contributions.