Contract Negotiation Yields No Major Breakthroughs, But Is 'Positive'

The Neshaminy Federation of Teachers [NFT] and the school board's negotiation team met last night for two hours and 20 minutes to negotiate terms of a new contract.

According to a statement released by the school board Thursday night, there were no major breakthroughs, but school board President Ritchie Webb referred to the meeting as "positive."

"Tonight we had an open and frank review of many economic issues separating us," NFT President Louise Boyd said in an e-mail Thursday night.

Although the NFT did not offer a counter proposal at the meeting, the board’s negotiation team asked to review its last proposal from July 18. Specifically, the review emphasized "the costs of the proposal and the savings that would be necessary to approach an agreement."  

Webb stressed that the board does not want a contract the district cannot afford, according to the statement.

"The mediator indicated the NFT wanted to be placed on the salary steps they would have received in accordance with their previous proposal," according to the statement. The NFT believed the cost of this move would be $1.2 million, however the board's estimated this move in excess of $4.8 million for the 2011-12 school year. According to the statement, this topic needs further review.

Both the NFT and the board’s negotiation team agreed more meetings were warranted, and the next session has been scheduled for Monday, August 15.