Schools

Neshaminy Community Continues To Voice Frustration

Members of the Neshaminy community voiced their frustration over the contract impasse and the teachers' strike.

Neshaminy parents, taxpayers and teachers packed into the Maple Point Middle School gym where they continued to voice frustration over the ongoing contract impasse and the teachers' strike during a school board meeting Tuesday evening.

"As they stand in solidarity, they are all accountable," Langhorne resident Michele Fay said of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers. She said that her children have been hurt by the teachers' strike and that she blames "each and every teacher in this district" for that.

"Hurting our children should never be an option," she said.

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"You reap what your sow," Feasterville resident Stephen Pirritano said. 

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"If you’re going to take it out in the classroom, you're taking it out on the children. I stand up for this board because they put the facts on the line. The board is presenting the facts to the community; it’s what it can afford, not what we can raise taxes to," he said.

Many teachers, clad in their blue NFT shirts, urged the community to end the anger, name-calling and disrespect for the teachers.

"There is too much anger and divide in this world as it is, why do we chose to add to it?" high school teacher Cara DiLorenzo said, noting that the ongoing impasse and community frustration has caused her to question whether her profession is "really worth the cost [she is] paying right now."

"You have taken every chance to demean the teachers and the teachers’ union. This isn’t about affordability, it’s about union busting," teacher Susan Schneider said of the school board.

Teachers and parents alike urged that the district bring an end to the nearly four-year contract impasse.

"Come through for this community. Bring compromise to negotiations," teacher and NFT negotiation team member Anne Schmidt said, urging the board to meet with the union to "get a sustainable agreement that is fair to students and all."

"I ask both the union and the board to come together peacefully and negotiate a contract that will benefit everyone. Each side has to come to a compromise already," Langhorne resident Kim Wojack said.

The NFT and school board's negotiation teams are scheduled to meet Thursday, January 26 in their first negotiation session since the teachers returned to work.

"Tell your negotiation team to come to the table seriously and willing to deal with the financial realities on the table, because until then, this deal won’t get done," board member Mark Shubin said of the upcoming negotiation session.

School board President Ritchie Webb referenced one teacher's statement during public comment in which it was said that none of the surrounding district teachers have been asked to give back what the Neshaminy teachers have been asked give back.

"You’re right," he said, "because they have never had what you’ve had. All we are trying to do is to bring you into the norm."

Also during Tuesday's meeting, Superintendent Louis Muenker announced that he will retire at the end of his contract, which expires June 30. He thanked the board, administrators, teachers, support staff, and parents who have supported him in his many roles during his more than 21 years with the district.

The board "sadly" and "reluctantly" approved Muenker’s resignation and will look for new candidates for superintendent. Webb said that the board is "saddened" by Muenkers resignation, but that he has agreed to stay on as superintendent if needed during the search for his replacement.

The board approved a $168 million preliminary budget for 2012-13 school year, which is currently characterized by a nearly $12 million deficit.

“The preliminary budget is the best guess at this point. We’re not locked into anything,” said Webb. “The goal is still to have a zero tax increase," he said. The school board balanced the 2011-2012 budget without raising taxes.

Webb made a motion that the board not use the Act I exceptions "unless absolutely necessary," which the board approved unanimously. The district will be applying for exceptions to cover special education and retirement contributions, however they do not need to use them.

In other business, the school board approved a new district policy that makes receiving passing score on the 11th-grade PSSA standardized exams a graduation requirement.

Board members said that there will be alternatives for students who do not pass the PSSA exams.

"We’re not going to strip certificates of graduation away from students. We’re trying to make students accountable for something that is important to the district," Shubin said of the new policy.

The school board also approved a motion that authorized the district's solicitor and Muenker to finalize terms and conditions of a 20-year solar power purchase agreement with Sunlogics and to enter into an agreement with the company. At , Muenker explained that the company is interested in installing solar panels on the roofs of Maple Point Middle School and Neshaminy High School at no cost to the district. The district would have the opportunity to purchase some of the energy generated by the solar panels at a lower rate than it currently pays PECO.


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