Members of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT) voted to accept the recommendations of an independent fact-finder on Thursday.
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The fact-finder was brought in last month to resolve outstanding issues between the union and the school board during contract negotiations.
The school board will vote on the fact-finder report next Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the district offices at Maple Point Middle School in Middletown.
If the board approves Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board-appointed attorney Thomas Leonard’s fact-finder report, the outline will become binding. If rejected, the report can still be used to put together a contract while negotiations continue.
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The deadline for both sides to accept or reject the fact finder’s report is October 6.
“We believe that the fact finder’s report provides a workable framework and a clear pathway to a fair and equitable, multi-year contract, which is the best possible outcome for our students, staff and community,” said NFT President Tara Huber. “We know it does not address all issues, but it addresses the areas of concern for a majority of our members. This is an excellent opportunity for labor peace and stability in our district. We are willing to compromise and we hope the Board is willing to follow suit for the good of the students and our community.”
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Both union and district negotiators held eight face to face sessions before they entered fact-finding.
The most recent contract for the 600-plus NFT members was for one year and expired at the end of June. In 2015, one-year deal did not include a base salary increase and secured that teachers had adequate preparation periods.
