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Striking Teachers to Return to Work Wednesday

The striking Neshaminy teachers will return to classrooms this Wednesday.

By Nicole Jenet
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June 11, 2012

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Teachers picketing outside of Poquessing Middle School.

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Teachers picketing outside of Poquessing Middle School.

Credit Tom Sofield

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The Neshaminy Federation of Teachers has annouced that their second strike of the school year has ended. Neshaminy students in kindergarten through 11th grade will report back to school Wednesday and their last day of school will be June 27.

NFT spokesperson Bob Schiers told Patch that the teachers have ended the strike effective immediately. They offered to return to classrooms Tuesday, however the school district requested they wait until Wednesday in order to have enough time to notify parents.

School board President Ritchie Webb said that representatives from the school district and NFT sat before Judge Robert Baldi this morning in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas to hear the Department of Education's complaint regarding the end of the second strike.

It was during this hearing that the NFT offered to end the strike immediately.

“In an effort to demonstrate to Judge Baldi and the students of Neshaminy that we are ready, willing and able to do whatever it takes to get back to the bargaining table, we ended the strike immediately in order to be back in our classrooms first thing tomorrow morning,” NFT President Louise Boyd said. She added that the district could send a Global Connect message to parents throughout the district letting them know classes would resume tomorrow and that it's "unfortunate" that the district is prolonging the school year by another day.

Webb said that the school district agreed to reinstate classes as soon as possible, which it deemed to be this Wednesday to allow for adequate notification to parents and staff.

PHOTOS: Neshaminy School Board Meets, NFT Doesn't Show

The NFT and school board will sit before a judge again June 25 to hear oral arguments regarding the NFT's motion for supervised and scheduled negotiations, with a requested minimum of four days per week including weekends, at a minimum of five hours per session, Webb said.

According to Boyd, the NFT plans to attend the originally scheduled negotiating session at 6 p.m. tomorrow.

VIDEO: Neshaminy Community Reacts to Second NFT Strike

"The Neshaminy School Board is pleased that the NFT has ended this second strike, and we look forward to resuming the last few days of the school year without incident. We ask all residents of Neshaminy to join us in welcoming back our teachers to a safe, productive learning environment," Webb said.

Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.

Richard

5:51 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012

Big deal, Their strike already screwed up the School Calendar. So Wed back to school, I it was Wed and all NFT-ers were going to Unemployment Line

Valerie Schubert

9:13 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012

"She added that the district could send a Global Connect message to parents throughout the district letting them know classes would resume tomorrow and that it's "unfortunate" that the district is prolonging the school year by another day."

The Board needs time to notify all parents, and coordinate with all food vendors, support staff, bus driver, etc. The NFT prolonged the school year, not the NSD. Does Boyd actually belive she can spin this in favor of the NFT and against the NSD? She is totally in LaLa Land, but we already knew that, didn't we?

feasterville resident

9:47 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012

Louise Boyd, has just confirmed her disconnect with reality (which we already knew). So the NFT called the strike, then stopped the strike on Monday expecting that everyone would return the next day? Then Boyd wants to blame the NSB for prolonging the school year. Amazing...... Louise, you and the NFT, prolonged the school year not just for one day but many.

feasterville resident

10:04 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012

Mr. Webb and the NSB, we back you 100%. We are sick and tired of Louise Boyd and the NFT. What is unfortunate, is that there are teachers that do care, that are an asset to their profession and our children. I have dealt with many, but then you have the one's that follow the "mob mentality" of the Boyder's.

John

3:24 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012

I find it funny (sad) how everything the NFT does they try to twist it somehow to gain community support and try to blame the school board. All they need to do is come to the negotiation table with TRUE CONCESSIONS!!! I keep hearing of the MANY concessions they have already given but know of only the MINOR 8% fixed healthcare contribution. I read somewhere they were wundering how the school was going to twist it to blame the teachers. NEWS FLASH they dont have to twist it. You are required to give 48 hours notice of an intention to strike. THE SAME COURTESY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO END IT!!!

feasterville resident

8:17 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012

We support you Ritchie Webb, NSB. Keep on track, do the right thing for the parents and taxpayers. Thank You. , ,

Jack Gibbs

9:06 am on Saturday, June 16, 2012

What blows my mind is that parents are screaming that their kids are missing school, because of the strike, but then are permitting them to stay home now that school is back in session. They are writing notes "claiming" that they are going on vacation, so their kid can "get out of taking a final exam", or to just let them stay home "because the building may be hot". Whether you agree with a strike or not, it is within teacher's RIGHTS as Americans (and Pennsylvanians....at this current time) to do strike. I am not sure that calling our teachers "child abusers", and teaching our children to LIE about vacations is the right thing to do.....or appropriate lessons to teach our children.

If we really want our children to succeed, we need to learn when to leave them alone so they can develop the necessary skills they will need to thrive as adults. It's a tricky line to walk, since studies link parents' engagement in a child's education to better grades, higher test scores, less substance abuse and better college outcomes. Rather than festering in negativity and anger over the impasse, we should look at this as an opportunity for our kids to develop the resiliency skills they will need need as they grow and develop into productive (and "healthy") members of society.

In the words of Washington Irving: "Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune, but great minds rise above them."

former teacher

7:57 am on Monday, June 18, 2012

"If we really want our children to succeed, we need to learn when to leave them alone so they can develop the necessary skills they will need to thrive as adults"

Why is it that NFT supporters seem to overlook the cornerstone of their campaign: to put pressure on the parents by using the kids? And leaving them alone is not what they are doing. They are undermining the education of the kids for their selfish aims.

feasterville resident

9:31 am on Saturday, June 16, 2012

For your knowledge Jack, I know of several parents who are not sending their children to school next week because of pre-planed vacations or summer camps. These activities have been paid in advance (six months to a year). As for striking, we get a two week notice. This is when we scramble to either take off work, pay and place our children in alternative care setting or lucky enough to have family or friends that do not work. So now when it is time to have a planned vacation or allow the kids to go to the summer camps they enjoy, with their family (who work the vast majority of the year) you are barking about children not in school. Come on now.
Are you for real. Our children do have the skill to be productive members of society.
They have families that care about their education and our financial well being. If you want to see who is festering and angry just read Louise Boyd's comments (who represents the NFT). Sure strike, how about when school is not in session. Wouldn't that alleviate children from losing class time. Could be done during weekends, holidays, summer, spring break, etc.... Oh, or is that time when they want to spend planned vacations with their families. You have a great quote by Washington Irving.
Yes "little minds" (NFT) are tamed and subdued by misfortune, but great minds (children, parents) rise above them. You hit the nail on the head - another quote.

Feodor Tiorlenko

7:38 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012

Back on strike in September fellow Mensa members. Perpetuate the ignorance.

former teacher

8:00 am on Monday, June 18, 2012

So that is your plan, Feodor? Just keep smacking the kids around until you get what you want?

I assume you want the NFT to be treated fairly? This has been suggested in other blogs: how about if we offer the NFT the same deal as one that was signed recently by other teacher unions? Take your pick: Council Rock, New Hope, Hatboro-Horsham, etc. Should the NFT receive a fair market CBA? Or is it that to the NFT, "fair" is just another word for "more than we have right now"?

What do you think, Feodor? Does this seem fair to you?