Contract Impasse and NFT Actions Remain Topics of Discussion

At Wednesday's Neshaminy School Board meeting, the ongoing contract impasse and actions of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers continue to be a topic of discussion.

NFT President Louise Boyd made a rare appearance at the public comment podium at the school board meeting and stated that the union has made its sixth contract proposal that contained millions of dollars of concessions.

"We have made compromises on numerous issues" including wage reduction, health care costs, the adjustment to retroactive pay and the retiree health packet, Boyd said.

In addition, Boyd said that after she and union officials met with the district's acting business administrator Barbara Markowitz and other district number crunchers, the union knows "that the district can find a way to compromise."

"The board can end this four year impasse...it is now up to the board to come to next negotiation session in good faith and end the rift in this community," she said.

"Show me the money," Feasterville resident Stephen Pirritano said in reference to Boyd's comments.

"I looked at the budget and I don’t see it. Your leadership has made promises they can’t keep. There is no money," he stated about the union.

"Where is the money? If we don’t have it, we can’t give it to you," school board member William O'Connor said.

"It’s kind of interesting what one thinks is a concession. In my mind, concession means the cost goes down," board President Ritchie Webb said. Webb also stated that the board is hoping to do a presentation at the next board meeting to show the public the "true cost" of the NFT's last proposal.

In addition to commenting on the impasse, Neshaminy parent and Albert Schweitzer Elementary School PTO board member Mandi Leap stood up to voice her opinion of the NFT's decision to have members picket in front of the Schweitzer and Carl Sandburg Middle School facilities Monday afternoon.

"You came to school during school hours knowing that children had to be there," Leap said of the NFT's "appalling" action that "disgusted" her.

"You came to this school solely intending for children to see your signs. You chose to go after this district’s youngest and most innocent crowd," she said.

"It is not ethical to stand in front of a child with your propaganda," she continued and stated that the NFT is a "bunch of greedy bullies and are not in it for the kids."

On Tuesday, O'Connor posted the following on his Facebook page about the picketing event:

"I have been told by Administration that yesterday's NFT picketing event at Sandburg/Schweitzer began at 2:45 and lasted until 4, which means all of our youngest students were witnesses. Again the NFT has involved the most innocent among us in this dispute. Words cannot adequately express my contempt and disgust for this behavior."

O'Connor reiterated his opinion of this act Wednesday by describing it as "despicable."

"It was just another decision made by the leadership hurting our teachers’ reputation," board member Scott Congdon said, adding that union members picketing at those schools was "absolutely wrong."

Several NFT members posted on the group's Facebook page that picketing on Monday was an act of "solidarity."