The Neshaminy School Board announced yesterday that dates have been set in June for discussions between Neshaminy Federation of Teachers [NFT] leadership and representatives from the board’s negotiation team.

The two meetings, one June 13 and the other June 16, will not be open to the public or press. At previous board meetings, board President Ritchie Webb and board member William O’Connor expressed their desire to have the meetings videotaped for broadcast or have a member of the press present, however O’Connor said that the NFT believed that this would “inhibit” negotiations.

The board and NFT have met 29 times since January 2008 without making any progress towards reaching a new agreement, as stated in a press released issued by the board May 10.

The board initially offered the NFT a three-year contract proposal in 2008, which the board withdrew May 10.

According to the press release, this contract proposal was highlighted by an average 3.1 percent salary increase, employee health care contributions ranging from 10 to 12 percent, elimination of Master’s Equivalency certificates, increasing the number of work days from 118.5 to 190.5, lengthening the work day from seven hours to seven and a half hours and removing the $27,500 retirement benefit.

This offer was later amended to include an increase in the health care contribution rate to 15 to 17 percent “based on the NFT’s desire to maintain a high cost, top tier insurance plan,” as stated in the release.

At last night’s board meeting, Webb said that if the NFT contributed 17 percent and utilized the same health care plan that the administration uses, the district would receive a $4 million savings. Currently, the district is facing a $3.2 million deficit in its proposed 2011-2012 budget.

By withdrawing the contract proposal, Webb stated in the press release that the board is now able to make a new proposal effective July 1, 2011.