Pennsbury Teachers’ Contract Impasse: “To Put It In Perspective, We Just Can’t Afford It”

The Pennsbury School Board voted down a fact-finder’s report for the second time.

Much to the dismay of the more than 150 Pennsbury Education Association (PEA) members in attendance, the board voted unanimously to not approve the fact-finder report from Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board-appointed attorney Mary Theresa Metzler.

The outcome matches the first vote taken at a similar meeting last week. The PEA membership voted to approve the fact-finder’s report last week and again this week. If both sides had approved the report, it would have been used to create the new contract.

The board solicitor said the report was incomplete in the healthcare section. He added that the report is a good starting point for further negotiations.

The fact-finder report laid out about $14 million in compensation for the 850 members of the PEA over the next several years, according to Board President Gary Sanderson.

“To put it in perspective, we just can’t afford it,” Sanderson told the PEA members.

Board members said the recommendations laid out in the fact-finder report are not sustainable for the district’s financial situation.

At public comment before the vote, PEA member George Miller, who is also the chief negotiator, asked the board to vote in favor of the report. He called out comments made outside of meetings by some board members and said some were “misrepresentations of truth” and “downright lies.”

“I would be remiss not to fight for the teachers who fought for me,” Sophie Laden, a Pennsbury High School senior and Lower Makefield resident, told he board. Her comment in support of the teachers were met with applause and a standing ovation from PEA members.

Several teachers spoke to equate their contractual pay to their respect in the district.

“We do respect everything you do for us but we can’t afford everything the fact-finder recommended for us,” said board member Jacqui Redner.

Board member Joshua Waldorf said the fact-finder report gives the board a great launching point for more negotiations. He added that the district was ready to “get down to the hard work.”

Board member Debra Wachspress warned teacher’s against a strike and said it would turn the community against them.

Doug Marshal, a Lower Makefield resident, said the teachers not getting their contract wishes show the “realities of living in the real world.”

“I’ll be in [school] tomorrow with my crew teaching my balls off,” said one teacher who spoke in advance of the vote. “We need to fix the negativity and the get rid of animosity (between the teachers and board).”