Catholic School Teachers Expected To Vote On Deal

NBC 10 is reporting that Catholic school teachers are expected to vote Monday morning on a tentative agreement for a new contract that could end their strike.

Neshaminy School Board Offers New Contract Proposal; Teachers Call It An 'Insult'

Members of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers left the barging tables only minutes after the session had begun.

A mere hours before talks were set to begin, the Neshaminy School Board revealed its newest contract proposal to members of the press. Board members were hopeful they could engage in meaningful talks with the district’s teachers union. The negotiation session started at 6 p.m. Monday and just minutes later, it was over. An attorney for the teacher’s union said the proposal "insulted every teacher." "This session was another demonstration of the board’s plan to avoid, at all costs, good faith negotiations," President of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers [NFT] Louise Boyd said in a statement. The NFT, which approved a strike order last month, refused to schedule additional meetings dates with the district’s negotiating team after Monday’s…

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Neshaminy School Board Members Weigh in on NFT Contract Proposal

Retiree health care benefits, employee contributions and retroactive pay still an issue for board members.

Tuesday evening, the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers unveiled a new contract proposal to the public and members of the press. Though the Neshaminy School Board members didn't get the contract proposal until this morning from the board's solicitor, they have been able to review changes made by the NFT in this proposal. Board member William O'Connor said Wednesday that he is gratified that "for the first time in three years" the NFT has agreed to contribute toward health care. School board President Ritchie Webb said that the NFT contract proposal agrees to pay a flat rate toward health care. NFT President Louis Boyd said Tuesday that the contribution is estimated at about 8 percent toward the current health care plan, but with a flat rate …

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NFT Presents New Contract Proposal

The new contract proposal includes member healthcare contributions and "significant savings to the school district,"as stated in a press release.

Neshaminy Federation of Teachers President Louise Boyd presented a new contract proposal to the school district Tuesday night; its third counter proposal to the district during the more than three years of unsettled contract negotiations. The contract presented is highlighted by a duration of six years, from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2014. In terms of salary, effective July 1, 2011 all certified staff will be placed "appropriately" on the salary matrix, based on years of service and education, including those earned since July 1, 2008, according to a press release issued by the NFT. Salary will increase by 1 percent from 2008-2009, 1 percent from 2009-2010, 1 percent from 2010-2011, 3 percent from 2011-2012, 3 percent from 2012-2013 and 3.5 …

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Pennsbury Board Member Breaks Down Financial Impact Of PEA Bargaining

Board member Howard Goldberg: It is now not possible to increase faculty compensation without sacrificing educational programs.

Lowering healthcare costs, offering an early retirement incentive for senior teachers and a new increased deductible medical plan were among the solutions offered during a presentation at the Pennsbury School Board meeting Thursday night. Board member Howard Goldberg led the presentation outlining the current financial state Pennsbury School District faces starting with the revenue challenges for the 2011-12 school year and beyond. Declining revenues were a cornerstone of the presentation. During the presentation Goldberg citied “Declining state funding – reduction in subsides, grants and reimbursements under proposed state budget could result in a $3.7 million revenue loss for Pennsbury.” Declining assessments, reduced investment interest…

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Sea Of Gray Shirts Says 'Let's Talk' To Pennsbury School Board

PEA Members Pack Thursday's School Board Meeting

Pennsbury Education Association members poured into Fallsington Elementary School Thursday night asking school board members to "communicate" and move contract talks forward. The school’s multi-purpose room was so full monitors in the lobby area were set up so others who attended could watch the meeting. Union members wore pins that read, "Let’s talk," and the sea of gray shirts showed a sense of solidarity. "Despite what newspapers say, the bond between parents and teachers remain solid," a Fallsington Elementary School social worker said before presenting board members with a petition. Petitions from the schools within the district were presented to the board as speakers continued with the "Let’s talk" theme. John Bowen, who said he has …

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Report: Neshaminy Contract Talks Show 'Progress'

The report says union and board officials called recent talks "positive" but a lot of work remains.

According to an article in Sundays Bucks County Courier Times, there were no new offers exchanged when Neshaminy school board and teacher union officials met last week, but both sides painted a positive picture. The article quotes Neshaminy union president Louise Boyd as saying she thought the two sides had made "some substantive progress."   The article also quotes Neshaminy board president Ritchie Webb as saying "I guess it's positive that we are talking and I'm happy that we set up another meeting, but this was the 26th time we've met and not one penny has been offered towards health care contributions. We need some economic concessions."  The next round of talks is scheduled for Dec. 28.