The Neshaminy School Board released a PDF copy of the 201 side agreements district administrators made over the years with the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers.
The side agreements, also known as memorandums of understanding, came to the light after an article that was published in the Bucks County Courier Times two weeks ago. The article featured School Board President Ritchie Webb commenting that the school board was unaware of a large majority of the 201 existing contract agreements.
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NFT Treasurer Marian Reed released the following comments in a statement following the newspaper article:
“Frankly, we’re stunned and perplexed by the district’s disorganization and confusion, and astounded by Mr. Webb’s comments. We presented 201 contractually binding pieces of this contract to the District at our meeting, some in place for decades, and they were aware of only 17 of them. Since 1980, our union has kept these legal documents in our office, in a simple three-hole-punch binder. That wasn’t a tough job for us, but it seems to have been beyond the district’s capability. Surely board members who are ultimately responsible for running the district, and who have been sitting members of the board for the terms of five superintendents, should have a better understanding of their district and this contract.”
Webb said at last week’s school board meeting that he would release the 201 side agreements once Superintendent Robert Copeland finished reviewing them and assessing their impact on the district.
Also, he said was working to make sure administrators and the union could not make side agreements without getting approval of the taxpayer elected board first.
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Webb outlined the following three steps the board was taking:
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In the near future, we will be voting on a motion which prevents the district from entering into any more side bar agreements with the NFT without expressed consent from the school board.
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This board wants to acknowledge and encourage the authority of our superintendent and all of our administrators. While it is important that each of you operate within the framework of the current contract, we want you to know that this board recognizes YOU as the day-to-day decision makers of our district. You must never again feel that you should have to apologize for that authority. We fully expect that you will run this district with both leadership and compassion.
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At this time, I want to reiterate our contractual offer to the NFT: We have modeled an offer based on the Council Rock CBA that is both generous in its financial reward, and reasonable in its language. That is our offer. THAT is our COMPLETE offer – no more 201 MOU’s, no more past practices. We now call upon union officials to stop hiding behind the parliamentary maneuver of a voice vote where people can be intimidated and shouted down. The time has come to allow your members a proper vote on this proposal.
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NFT NSD Side Letters 03252013.pdf
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