No agreement reached in Peters Township schools
Despite meeting for nearly four hours Sunday night, Peters Township teachers and officials from Peters Township School District could not come to an agreement on a new contract.
The district’s 285 teachers, who are members of Peters Township Local 3431, voted unanimously last month to go on strike Oct. 28 if a new contract is not reached. They have been working without a contract since the school year began in late August.
Shelly Belcher, spokeswoman for the school district, said the union came to the table Sunday with its previous offer.
“They are not looking to set a limit on class size,” Belcher said Sunday evening. “They are seeking to be paid $400 per child over a set number of students.”
Belcher could not say exactly what the average class size is at the district’s three elementary, middle and high schools. Class size varies at each educational level, she added. Overall, the district has 4,300 students.
In addition, Belcher said, the district offered to increase health care contributions with a salary increase that would offset employee contributions. The only exception is for teachers at the highest step salary of $104,000 annually who opt for family coverage, she said.
Paul Homer, spokesman for the union, called the district’s health care offer “ludicrous.” He said the union simply wants a “fair shake.”
Pennsylvania requires its 501 school districts to complete 180 days of instruction by June 15. If a strike should take place, then the calendar would be modified by taking away vacation days and extending the school year to reach the required days, the district has said.
Since an agreement was not reached Sunday, the union and the district will meet today and have scheduled additional meetings for Oct. 25 and Oct. 27 on a new contract.