At a meeting where some members of the Neshaminy School Board got off track and bickered, a new one-year contract with the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers was approved.
The new one-year agreement was approved 6-1 Thursday evening during the special meeting. Board member Mike Morris was the lone dissenting vote. Board members Susan Cummings and Ron Rudy were not present at the meeting.
The new contact has some changes but remains similar to the previous one approved in 2013 after a five-year-long impasse. The new contract is retroactive and will cover the period from July 1 to June 30, 2016.
Last week, most of the NFT members that attended a union voting meeting approved of the contract.
The biggest changes in the new contract are in regards to preparation periods and class size.
Elementary school teachers will now have 160 minutes per week to prepare for their classes. The time will be scheduled in blocks no less than 20 minutes and no more than 40 minutes per day.
As part of the deal, class size limits will remain in place on paper but the administration will be able to exceed the limit by two students per classroom. At Schweitzer Elementary School, an exception that will expire at the end of the 2015-2016 school year will allow district to exceed the class size limit by more than two students. In exchange, additional in-class time from a support aide will be provided.
NFT members base salary will not see an increase under the new contract, but eligible staff who take vertical steps and horizontal movement will see a pay increase.
The new contract will costNeshaminy $1.2 million more than last year. Business manager Barbara Markowitz said the increase is ready covered under the current budget.
In exchange for the changes in the contract, the NFT will drop several grievances it has filed against the district.
Shubin heralded the class size change clause in the contract. He said the relatively minor change will allow Neshaminy to end splitting classes and the sister schooling practice.
Several board members thanked the NFT for their “flexibility” during the months-long contract negotiations.
NFT President Tara Huber said after the meeting that the new contract worked for the teachers and district.
Board member Stephen Pirritano said he felt the new contract was responsible.
Congdon said at the end of the meeting that he believes the contract was a good deal for both sides and lets the district “provide the best education” based on the budget.
While the contact vote was pending before the board, Morris voiced his displeasure that the “contract was never vetted through the public.” He added that transparency in the district “is the most important thing for our taxpayers.”
Morris and at least two school board candidates who spoke public comment asked the board to hold the vote on the contract until the August 25 meeting, citing the “lack of transparency.”
Morris also called in question the $1.2 million figure that the board said was the cost on the new deal.
District officials confirmed the number is correct, at least according to their calculations.
After some go-between from Morris and Shubin, School Board President Scott Congdon stopped the two and tried to get the meeting back on track.
Morris again began speaking and eventually verbally debating with Shubin.
Advertisements
“I don’t trust any one of you up here, you are building a….,” Morris said.
“That, sir, is a personal attack,” Shubin said.
“No, it’s not,” Morris responded.
Advertisements
Congdon interrupted the two a short time later and clarified issues related to the district’s finances.
The board then voted on the contract with a roll call.
Later in the meeting, Morris walked out of the meeting during board comment after he felt Congdon called him a liar.
Advertisements
“I’m a little confused, I’m not sure where that went,” Congdon said after Morris left.
The meeting wrapped up a short time later without any problems.
