One of the most revealing statements to me was this one:
This is exactly what the people need to see - both sides in public discussing the situation.
Lesky had planned to attend, but at the behest of the board will not. The board feared private negotiations were becoming public.
Two other critical points made:
Their answer is a contract they feel spreads out money fairly over five years. Just taking into account salaries, the union's proposed pay scale totals $630,000 more than the district's final offer.
Health care is another sticking point, and the union has filed a grievance alleging the district reduced health care coverage without negotiating the changes, in violation of the contract.
The fact that the union has filed a grievance is new information as far as I can recall. An amount the union has requested for pay is also new to me. Previously it was only stated that they were not far off.
The article also states as has been stated previously that the teachers want to play a flat fee for their medical contribution instead of a percent of pay.
There was a pay chart in the printed paper that was not online that compared what the teachers want compared to the offer from the board. This was the first I'd seen the teachers specifically stated salary requests publicly released.
Finally, the teachers want one meeting per month, compared to what they claim are up to four. I say claim because Lesky stated it is not normal to have four, but that they do need to call them as needed.
So more information escapes into public view - what do you think about this latest round of information? What would you like to see addressed or clarified tonight? What do you think of the Board requesting Superintendent Lesky not attend the meeting?
1 comment:
I am glad to see more info coming out on the teachers union points as was requested by many parents, public at the last community meeting with the union reps. Since we have read and heard nasd has to offer. What do teachers request in the new contract?
At the last school board meeting there was a time that board members were caution by other board members they were getting on the line of nego. However, it was stated in the newspaper by Mr. Lesky to call or email him with questions ,again should not these questions and answers(if you get one)being asked on this topic be public, as to fairly give us all more insight and information to these matters. I am sure the NASD board and admin could of planned to send more one person to warn and avoid getting into nego, neutral non district person, lawyer etc. I guess we will then need to read the follow up in the paper and then go to Monday's school board meeting to hear the war of words. Present the truth and facts for both sides at the same meeting was what I was looking forward too. I am thinking this is going to be a long drawn out affair. Can PA public school teachers strike during the PSSA testing window? Make you wonder how long this can go for without a hired factfinder then 40 days after the hire of a fact finder. Then holiday breaks. You can feel the hostility is even apparent within the school board committee members themselves as was noticable at the last board meeting. We will see. Morale is way down and soon students wil pick up such.
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