Neshaminy Contract Talks Make No Progress, Again

Neshaminy teachers have until May 22 to accept the district’s current contract offer or lose this year’s pay raise and push negotiations into another school year, according to reports.

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, President Ritchie Webb and Neshaminy Federation of Teachers Vice President Anne Schmidt met privately four times over the last few weeks—most recently on Monday—yet could not find common ground, Phillyburbs.com reported.

The latest board proposal to the 633-member NFT is a contract that was accepted by Council Rock teachers last year and boosts the maximum salary from $95,923 to $107,469 as well as a 5 percent increase in teacher contributions to medical care over the term of the contract, according to Buckslocalnews.com.

Neshaminy teachers have not had a raise since the negotiations began June 30, 2007, and receive free medical insurance under the terms of the old pact, Buckslocalnews.com reported.

The union has yet to bring the contract to its members for a vote.

Meanwhile, the board approved the district’s preliminary 2013-2014 budget with no tax increase, but will have to dip into it’s reserve fund to balance an expected $6.6 million deficit, Philyburbs.com reported. But if the teachers do not sign the proposed contract, their raises promised this year will also go to pay down the deficit.