Progress Made in Neshaminy Negotiations; Key Obstacles Remain

Thursday night, the Neshaminy School Board and Neshaminy Federation of Teachers participated in "positive dialogue" and made "important strides toward resolution ofthe 5-year contract impasse."

However, school board President Ritchie Webb said that two important issues remain at large.

“The NFT proposal for special education class size adds $2 million to our annual operating budget. Not only is that unaffordable, we also believe that the NFT plan violates State guidelines thus making it an unviable program,” he stated.

The other issue, Webb said, involves contract language, specifically regarding equal say, status quo and past practices.

“The board remains committed to creating an environment that respects the work and professionalism of our teachers without hamstringing our administrators with prohibitive and counterproductive contract language.”

“If our principals are to be held accountable for results, then there can be no doubt as to who holds ultimate decision-making authority within a school building. The board will never agree to contract language that in any way hinders the authority of our administrators,” Webb elaborated.

Both sides will meet again Monday, Nov. 26.

Between now and then, the NFT is expected to review the school board’s objection to their special education plan, as well as reconsider their insistence of maintaining contract language that supports equal voice, status quo, and past practices.