Educators in the Shippensburg Area School District have been working without a contract for 119 days, as negotiations with the school board continue after nearly 11 months. Tensions have recently escalated after the district publicly released its latest contract offer, a move the teachers' union has labeled a "one-sided account" of the discussions.
Despite the public friction, both the educators and the school board express optimism that an agreement is near. A key negotiation session is scheduled for Wednesday, with both parties hoping to find a resolution to the prolonged dispute.
Key Takeaways
- Shippensburg teachers have been without a contract since it expired on June 30, a period of 119 days.
- Negotiations between the teachers' union and the school district have been ongoing for nearly 11 months.
- The school board publicly released its latest offer, which includes a 4.295% average annual salary increase.
- The teachers' union criticized the public release as one-sided and organized a "walk-in" to gain community support.
- Both sides report they are close to an agreement and hope to finalize a new contract in an upcoming session.
A Public Dispute Over Negotiations
The central point of recent contention stems from the school board's decision to publicly detail its contract proposal. The offer outlined a 4.295% salary increase over a four-year average, along with incentives for personal and sick days and a spousal carve-out for insurance.
Mike Carey, a member of the Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors, defended the move. He stated that the board felt it was important for the public to be aware of the financial aspects of the negotiations.
"We felt it was fair to the taxpayers. They're the ones who are affording this bill," Carey explained.
However, this action was not well-received by the educators. The teachers' union argued that the district's public statement did not present a complete picture of the negotiations and omitted their own proposals entirely.
The Sticking Points
Contract negotiations in public education often involve complex details beyond just salary. Key areas typically include healthcare contributions, class size limits, preparation time for teachers, and professional development funding. The public release focused primarily on the district's financial offer, which the union felt did not capture the full scope of the ongoing talks.
Teachers Rally for Community Support
In response to the district's public notice, educators organized a "walk-in" event ahead of a recent school board meeting. The goal was to demonstrate unity and appeal directly to the community for support.
Katrina Neyman, a music educator in the district, expressed frustration with the board's tactic, questioning its intent.
"Sending out this message to the public — to what ends? To rile up the community against the teachers?" Neyman asked while on her way to a second job.
She emphasized that the information released by the district was incomplete. "It’s very one-sided, doesn’t include our side at all or any of our proposals," Neyman stated.
The walk-in was designed to apply gentle pressure and highlight the teachers' commitment to reaching a fair agreement.
By the Numbers: The Dispute Timeline
- 11 Months: The approximate duration of contract negotiations, which began on January 1.
- 119 Days: The number of days teachers have worked under the terms of an expired contract.
- June 30: The date the previous teacher contract officially expired.
- 4.295%: The average yearly salary increase proposed by the school district in its latest offer.
Hopes for an Imminent Resolution
Despite the public disagreements, representatives from both the school board and the teachers' union have indicated that they are not far apart. Both sides have publicly stated they are working together collaboratively to finalize a new contract.
Mike Carey stressed the need for unity. "I don’t like the ‘we’ and ‘they’ mentality. It isn’t us and them. We all work for the district. We’re a team, and we need to iron this out and come to a resolution," he said.
This sentiment is shared by the educators. The union and its members are looking toward the next scheduled negotiation session on Wednesday with cautious optimism.
"We are really hoping that with pressure from the community and from teachers, we can find resolution," Neyman said, reflecting the hope that the prolonged period of uncertainty will soon come to an end.