Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Several Neshaminy School Board members stated that they will not approve a new teachers contract that includes an "equal voice" clause.
After hearing several residents' pleads, members of the Neshaminy School Board assured the community that they will not agree to a new teachers contract that includes an "equal voice" clause. "Any contrqact that takes away control from the school district is not a good contract," board member Anthony Sposato said, adding that he would vote against a contract that included equal voice. Board member Mike Morris told the community that the school board's priority is representing Neshaminy students and running the school district. He also said that the board does not represent the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers and that the NFT "definitely does not represent the students." "Equal say must go; we are not bending," Morris added. Board member …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The Neshaminy Federation of Teachers and Neshaminy School Board met to negotiate Monday night after a three-week hiatus.
After not meeting for three weeks, the Neshaminy School Board and Neshaminy Federation of Teachers resumed talks of a new contract Monday night. In a joint statement, both sides said that, as promised, the NFT's negotiation team provided the board with a "comprehensive analysis of the issues" still separating them a week before last night's meeting. The union and school board spent two hours Monday night at the bargaining table discussing in "vivid detail each of the issues that remain unresolved." At the suggestion of the mediator, both sides separated to further review their proposals and positions. They discussed those positions and their relative merits with the mediator, who called for an end to the negotiations at 10 p.m. The school …
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The Neshaminy School Board notified the teachers union that it would like to base its new offer on recently settled contracts from surrounding districts.
At last week's negotiation session between the Neshaminy School Board and the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers, the board notified the union that it would like to base a new contract offer after one of the recently settled contracts from the surrounding school districts. According to school board President Ritchie Webb, the board reviewed several different contracts for new ideas while taking into consideration the PSSA test score success of those districts. This process led the board to choose the Souderton Area School District's agreement to be the model moving forward. This contract, which is attached to this article to the right, went into effect July 1, 2012. "If we have learned anything from the past four years, it's that our …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The NFT believes that the arbitrator's finding is a "realistic reference point for continued negotiations."
Despite the Neshaminy School Board unanimously rejecting the state-appointed arbitrator's findings, the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers is "hopeful the school board will finally engage in serious negotiations." Read more: NSB Presses for More Negotiations "We believe the arbitrator’s award is a realistic reference point for continued negotiations and we remain ready to bargain at any time," NFT President Louise Boyd said in a press release. She added that while the arbitrator's findings were "not a clear victory for either side" the union believes that the report shows that there are many ways for both parties to compromise and end the contract impasse. Boyd also said that the arbitrator's ruling was " very middle ground." "We’re still …
Monday, May 14, 2012
The school board and NFT haven't negotiated new contract terms since before the strike in January.
Although the Neshaminy School Board was disappointed by the non-binding arbitration process, the school board contacted state-appointed mediator John Cairns to schedule further contract talks with the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers. Read more: Neshaminy Superintendent Presents More Cost Saving Recommendations "There isn't a single board member who doesn't want to get this thing [a new contract] settled, but we have to keep our costs under control or else it will be the students who suffer," school board President Ritchie Webb said in a press release. "We are willing to continue talks as long as the NFT is," Webb added. In response to NFT President Louise Boyd's criticism that that the school board's recent rejection of the arbitrator's …
Saturday, May 5, 2012
The state-appointed arbitrator findings are in.
The Neshaminy School Board and Neshaminy Federation of Teachers have now received the state-appointed arbitrators findings. However, the details of the reports are not being released to the public yet. Read more: NFT Decries District's Use of 'Scare Tactics,' 'Confrontational Strategy' Both parties entered non-binding arbitration this past February following the teachers' eight-day strike in January. According to a NFT press release, both sides received the report Thursday and helped identify the contract issues that are clearly in dispute. The school board members are still reviewing the report and will likely release its details at Tuesday's board meeting at Maple Point Middle School. The union will be reviewing the document Wednesday. …
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Neshaminy School Board and Neshaminy Federation of Teachers are currently engaged in non-binding arbitration.
The Neshaminy Federation of Teachers and Neshaminy School Board are now engaged in non-binding arbitration in accordance with state law following a teachers' strike. Read more: NFT, School Board Attorneys To Discuss Non-Binding Arbitration According to School Board President Ritchie Webb's post on the Neshaminy Contract Negotiations blog, both parties agreed on an arbitrator, selected from a list provided by the American Arbitration Association. Read more: Neshaminy School Board Requests District Attorney Investigation Hearings have started, and six additional dates have been scheduled in February and March, Webb wrote. After both parties have submitted their issues to the arbitration panel, the public will be given the opportunity to …
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Neshaminy School Board President Ritchie Webb is challenging NFT President Louise Boyd's statement following Tuesday evening's negotiation session.
Following NFT President Louise Boyd's statement regarding Tuesday evening's negotiation session, school board President Ritchie Webb said in a school board issued press release that he is “tired and frustrated with the constant half-truths and blatant misinformation being spread by union leaders, especially Ms. Boyd.” In Boyd's statement issued last night, she stated that the NFT presented an “extensive fact-laden explanation” that revealed “ready sources of money” the board could use in negotiations. In addition, Boyd also "accused the board of manipulating PSSA scores, and said that the board refused to answer NFT questions and simply terminated the meeting." According to Webb, Tuesday's meeting ended when board member Mike Morris asked …
Negotiation teams for the school board and union met Tuesday evening and discussed district finances and Board President Ritchie Webb's November 22 presentation.
The negotiation teams for the Neshaminy School Board and Neshaminy Federation of Teachers met Tuesday evening in their 37th negotiation session. According to a statement issued by the board, both parties met separately with the mediator as well as together across the table with the mediator. District finances and the presentation made by Board President Ritchie Webb at the November 22 board meeting, although, according to the board's statement, the most serious discussions took place in separate rooms with the mediator. In the NFT's statement, union President Louise Boyd refers to Tuesday's negotiation session as "yet another wasted evening with the School Board." "Having received a significant sweeping proposal from the NFT on November 1…
Feodor Tiorlenko
6:16 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Robert represents the ignorant dopes among you. Robert, if you had a brain signifying the ability to retain information, you wouldn't be spouting that ignoramus rant. That's precisely why we need public education. You folks don't understand how you publicly embarass yourselves every moment you put your fingers on a keypad and press enter. This is embarassing drivel. Nehsaminy is the home of dopes. more ›