Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
With rumors of a teachers’ strike come the start of classes in September, Pennsbury School District officials and representatives from the Pennsbury Education Association (PEA) are still working to reach a contract agreement.
“Negotiations between the parties are continuing,” Pennsbury Solicitor Michael P. Clarke said in a statement this week. “Recent sessions have been productive.”
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On Wednesday, district officials confirmed to LevittownNow.com that the PEA has requested a fact-finder be appointed. The fact-finder is scheduled to hold a hearing on September 11 and the fact-finder’s opinion is due on September 28, a much shorter period than the 40 days state law allows.
Under Pennsylvania Act 88, appointing a fact-finder is option for both the district and union when contract negotiations are at an impasses. The state-appointed fact-finder looks at contract proposals and makes recommendations based on them.
The way Act 88 works, teachers would not be able to strike during the period of time a fact-finder is reviewing contract offers. If both sides accept the fact-finder report, it becomes binding. If rejected, the report could be used to put together a contract while negotiations continue.
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The most recent contract for PEA expired on June 30 and went into place in 2013. The five-year deal was retroactive and covered from 2010 until this summer.
Contact information for PEA leaders was not immediately available.
