From the BCCT.
Teacher strike ban to be reintroduced
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
Get ready for take two in the struggle to eliminate teacher strikes.
Though Strike-Free Education Act House Bill 1369 failed to see any legislative action after he introduced it about two years ago, state Rep. Todd Rock, R-Franklin, said he'll reintroduce it today.
"The key to it is getting it out of committee. It could sit there for years," said Rock.
If passed, the bill would overhaul the negotiation process between a school district and its teachers union and would impose financial penalties for strikes and school lockouts.
"My bill still aims to provide for mediation, fact-finding and arbitration to resolve most contracts. If both sides still can't come to an agreement after certain dates, it forces them to meet four times a month and to have a public forum to lay out both sides of the case every six weeks. By the nature of all these meetings, you'd want to come to an agreement," said Rock, the bill's chief sponsor and author.
A teacher for a decade and a school board member for three years, Rock said he expects opposition to his bill - again - in the Legislature, though he believes most people are enthusiastic about stopping teacher strikes.
"The union is very big, and they have a lot of money and a lot of influence. I'm up against a lot of different factors. But every time a strike happens, I think it's a bigger negative for the teaching profession. They should have another option," said Rock.
Thirty-seven states prohibit teacher strikes.
Statewide, more than 20 school districts are at risk of a strike, according to information on Rock's Web site. More than 60 percent of all teacher strikes since 2000 have occurred in Pennsylvania, even though its teacher salaries are among the top 10 highest in the country.
"This is one of those issues that Rock is saying he's not going to let go. We're going to keep driving it into public awareness until one day it becomes law," said bill supporter and Lower Makefield resident Simon Campbell.
He became a local proponent of stopping teacher strikes after a 21-day strike in 2005 in his children's district, Pennsbury. Campbell said he plans to speak during Rock's press conference today in Harrisburg.
Rep. Paul Clymer, R-145, is a cosponsor of the bill. The geographic areas he represents are near the Souderton School District, where teachers went on strike during a bitter dispute for 13 days in the fall.
"I'm opposed to strikes by public employees at large, because we provide services that are important to our citizens. When you assume a position in the public arena, you do not go on strike. That doesn't mean I'm anti-union," Clymer said.
Passage of the bill wouldn't eliminate contract disputes, said Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31.
"You can outlaw strikes and still have a labor dispute that festers on for years," said the former Bensalem High School teacher and Pennsylvania State Education Association member.
Both sides should be required by state law to negotiate "around the clock" if an impasse occurs, he said. The two sides should have to submit their last, best offers to a Commonwealth Court judge for a final decision, Santarsiero added.
"I think it's necessary to have the threat of a judge to make a binding decision that could go against one of the parties, he said.
Rock disagrees with that.
"He's talking about binding arbitration. We have nine school board officials elected to make that decision for our community. It should not be made by an outsider to the community," he said.
The issue of whether it's best to make teacher strikes illegal is complicated, said Rep. Frank Farry, R-142, whose legislative district includes the Neshaminy School District.
Neshaminy's teachers union recently rejected a school board offer and is still negotiating its contract.
"If a bill had the proper dispute resolution to ensure that education was uninterrupted, then I think it's something we need to consider. But I still need to take a look at the language in this bill," Farry said.
Among local school districts, Pennsbury's union and school board decided to extend its current labor contract for another year with no cost-of-living increases.
Showing posts with label teacher strikes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teacher strikes. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Pennsbury Teacher Contract
From the BCCT.
Why do I keep hearing the same John Williams music in the background that I hear when I'm taking a swim at the shore?
Vote to extend teachers contract coming
By MANASEE WAGH
The board says it's determined to keep next year's tax hike to a maximum of 4.1 percent, said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Teachers and board members will soon vote on extending the current teacher contract in Pennsbury for another year, which would cost taxpayers an additional $1.1 million.
If the board and more than 800 Pennsbury teacher union members ratify the tentative agreement, it would mean freezing cost-of-living raises for a year. Teachers would still get longevity and educational attainment pay increases dictated by the pay scale. They also would retain a benefit package that requires them to contribute 10 percent toward their health care benefits.
The board plans to vote on the contract extension Feb. 19, some time after the teachers act on it, officials said.
At an average teacher salary of $77,524, Pennsbury ranks in the top 10 of 501 school districts in the state. Teacher salaries start at about $41,176 and peak at roughly $98,222.
"The people at the top of the scale - between 54 and 56 percent - would not receive an increase," said board President Gregory Lucidi on Friday about longevity and educational attainment pay increases.
Based on previous estimates, the rough additional costs in the coming school year under an extended contract would be an average of about $1.4 million for longevity, and educational attainment increases would count for about $500,000, he said.
Lucidi said the district expects about 20 retirements, which would save it $800,000, assuming it hires replacements at the lowest salary level. So the net effect would be a $1.1 million increase, he said.
Pennsbury's business administrator, Isabel Miller, wasn't in the office Friday to answer questions about how much of the total budget goes to teacher salaries and benefits. District CEO Paul Long said he didn't want to comment on teacher contracts before the tentative agreement is ratified, he said.
According to an initial budget draft, the district is facing a $12.2 million deficit - not including a 10 percent tax increase. The board will be approving a revised version of the preliminary $180 million budget at a Feb. 12 special meeting.
Without knowing if the district could face an emergency between now and the June 30 deadline for final budget approval, the administration recommends following through with the Act 1 budget process, including applying for exemptions to raise taxes above the state-imposed limit of 4.1 percent.
That doesn't mean the district will necessarily use the exemptions. Applying for them prevents possible financial emergencies that could arise later, Lucidi said. The board is likely to approve applying for exemptions at the Feb. 12 meeting, he said.
The Bristol Township, Council Rock and Morrisville School Districts have passed resolutions promising not to raise property taxes for 2009-10 more than the 4.1 percent limit.
Lucidi stressed that Pennsbury is also determined to keep taxes at or below the limit. The district is looking at all areas of district operations to trim the budget, he said.
"We're required by Act 1 to approve a preliminary budget. It's nothing more than an estimate. There is absolutely no way the board would approve a 10 percent tax hike. The maximum tax increase would be the index. And we're trying to get it well below that," he said.
Why do I keep hearing the same John Williams music in the background that I hear when I'm taking a swim at the shore?
Vote to extend teachers contract coming
By MANASEE WAGH
The board says it's determined to keep next year's tax hike to a maximum of 4.1 percent, said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Teachers and board members will soon vote on extending the current teacher contract in Pennsbury for another year, which would cost taxpayers an additional $1.1 million.
If the board and more than 800 Pennsbury teacher union members ratify the tentative agreement, it would mean freezing cost-of-living raises for a year. Teachers would still get longevity and educational attainment pay increases dictated by the pay scale. They also would retain a benefit package that requires them to contribute 10 percent toward their health care benefits.
The board plans to vote on the contract extension Feb. 19, some time after the teachers act on it, officials said.
At an average teacher salary of $77,524, Pennsbury ranks in the top 10 of 501 school districts in the state. Teacher salaries start at about $41,176 and peak at roughly $98,222.
"The people at the top of the scale - between 54 and 56 percent - would not receive an increase," said board President Gregory Lucidi on Friday about longevity and educational attainment pay increases.
Based on previous estimates, the rough additional costs in the coming school year under an extended contract would be an average of about $1.4 million for longevity, and educational attainment increases would count for about $500,000, he said.
Lucidi said the district expects about 20 retirements, which would save it $800,000, assuming it hires replacements at the lowest salary level. So the net effect would be a $1.1 million increase, he said.
Pennsbury's business administrator, Isabel Miller, wasn't in the office Friday to answer questions about how much of the total budget goes to teacher salaries and benefits. District CEO Paul Long said he didn't want to comment on teacher contracts before the tentative agreement is ratified, he said.
According to an initial budget draft, the district is facing a $12.2 million deficit - not including a 10 percent tax increase. The board will be approving a revised version of the preliminary $180 million budget at a Feb. 12 special meeting.
Without knowing if the district could face an emergency between now and the June 30 deadline for final budget approval, the administration recommends following through with the Act 1 budget process, including applying for exemptions to raise taxes above the state-imposed limit of 4.1 percent.
That doesn't mean the district will necessarily use the exemptions. Applying for them prevents possible financial emergencies that could arise later, Lucidi said. The board is likely to approve applying for exemptions at the Feb. 12 meeting, he said.
The Bristol Township, Council Rock and Morrisville School Districts have passed resolutions promising not to raise property taxes for 2009-10 more than the 4.1 percent limit.
Lucidi stressed that Pennsbury is also determined to keep taxes at or below the limit. The district is looking at all areas of district operations to trim the budget, he said.
"We're required by Act 1 to approve a preliminary budget. It's nothing more than an estimate. There is absolutely no way the board would approve a 10 percent tax hike. The maximum tax increase would be the index. And we're trying to get it well below that," he said.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Teacher Pay
Here's an article from the BCCT looking at the recent Souderton teacher's strike and teacher pay. The best part of the story are the reader comments.
Thank God that this would never happen here in Morr...
Oh. Sorry. My bad.
Teachers: Pay driving them away
By LOU SESSINGER
Staff Writer
The Souderton Area school board listened impassively as three teachers claimed the board’s rigid stance during the current labor dispute over salary is driving talented teachers to districts willing to pay more — and quality of education in Souderton is suffering.
Speaking during the public comment section of last Tuesday night’s school board meeting, speech therapist Allison Moran said the recent resignation of three of her colleagues, “due to the contract this board has presented,” has reduced the number of full-time district speech therapists to two.
One took a job in Upper Perkiomen and two were hired by Upper Dublin, she said, adding that those who went to Upper Dublin got more money.
“Quality teachers and speech therapists cannot be kept in this district without adequate compensation,” she said.
School district solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik said the board was aware of a trend in which school districts are competing for a limited number of speech therapists.
“The board would be prepared to address this issue by having a different compensation scale arranged for speech therapists,” he said. “Compensation should be determined to a certain extent by supply and demand, and this board is prepared right now to sit down and negotiate a separate compensation scale for speech therapists.
“But you’re shaking your head no because it runs contrary to your concept of unionism, which keeps everybody’s salary at the same level, not withstanding supply and demand,” he added.
Science teacher Christopher Luck said he had a master’s degree, was certified to teach both chemistry and physics, was in his ninth year with the school district and earned $53,600 a year, several thousand dollars less than he would be paid at neighboring North Penn or Pennridge.
He said he has seen many of his colleagues leave Souderton for higher pay elsewhere.
“Do you really want quality teachers to leave?” he asked.
Christine Jackson, a physics teacher with 16 years’ experience, said this year the board’s attitude toward teacher salaries “left us with no choice” but to go on strike or find employment elsewhere.
“We’re disheartened by your lack of respect to teachers and administrators … and your unwillingness to strengthen the district,” she said.
The teachers union went on strike for 15 days at the start of the school year in September.
The school district has offered a three-year contract with pay raises averaging 2.5 percent. The union wants a four-year pact with raises averaging 8.2 percent.
The labor impasse is now in a phase of nonbinding arbitration.
Thank God that this would never happen here in Morr...
Oh. Sorry. My bad.
Teachers: Pay driving them away
By LOU SESSINGER
Staff Writer
The Souderton Area school board listened impassively as three teachers claimed the board’s rigid stance during the current labor dispute over salary is driving talented teachers to districts willing to pay more — and quality of education in Souderton is suffering.
Speaking during the public comment section of last Tuesday night’s school board meeting, speech therapist Allison Moran said the recent resignation of three of her colleagues, “due to the contract this board has presented,” has reduced the number of full-time district speech therapists to two.
One took a job in Upper Perkiomen and two were hired by Upper Dublin, she said, adding that those who went to Upper Dublin got more money.
“Quality teachers and speech therapists cannot be kept in this district without adequate compensation,” she said.
School district solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik said the board was aware of a trend in which school districts are competing for a limited number of speech therapists.
“The board would be prepared to address this issue by having a different compensation scale arranged for speech therapists,” he said. “Compensation should be determined to a certain extent by supply and demand, and this board is prepared right now to sit down and negotiate a separate compensation scale for speech therapists.
“But you’re shaking your head no because it runs contrary to your concept of unionism, which keeps everybody’s salary at the same level, not withstanding supply and demand,” he added.
Science teacher Christopher Luck said he had a master’s degree, was certified to teach both chemistry and physics, was in his ninth year with the school district and earned $53,600 a year, several thousand dollars less than he would be paid at neighboring North Penn or Pennridge.
He said he has seen many of his colleagues leave Souderton for higher pay elsewhere.
“Do you really want quality teachers to leave?” he asked.
Christine Jackson, a physics teacher with 16 years’ experience, said this year the board’s attitude toward teacher salaries “left us with no choice” but to go on strike or find employment elsewhere.
“We’re disheartened by your lack of respect to teachers and administrators … and your unwillingness to strengthen the district,” she said.
The teachers union went on strike for 15 days at the start of the school year in September.
The school district has offered a three-year contract with pay raises averaging 2.5 percent. The union wants a four-year pact with raises averaging 8.2 percent.
The labor impasse is now in a phase of nonbinding arbitration.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Steil describes bill to end teacher strikes
From the BCCT.
Steil describes bill to end teacher strikes
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
Parents and teachers recently listened to state Rep. Dave Steil describe the workings of a bill to end teacher strikes.
Strike-Free Education Act House Bill 1369, if passed by the state Legislature, would make strikes illegal and add several mediation steps to the bargaining process between teachers unions and school districts. If those steps still result in a stalemate, the new law ultimately would require four negotiating sessions a month until an agreement is reached. It would make each step of the process transparent to the public.
Steil, R-31, plans to retire shortly. He urged listeners to ask their state representatives to support the bill.
“It happens when a mass of people get behind it and say, "We want this done,' ” he said.
The meeting last week at the Yardley Community Center and attended by about 35 people who wanted to know more about the legislation, was organized by local teacher strikes opponent Simon Campbell of Lower Makefield.
Jill Basile, the parent of a child in the Souderton School District, also spoke at the meeting.
The Souderton district was shut down recently for 13 school days during a strike. Basile's anger propelled her into action, she said. She made fliers, called the local media and is meeting with local politicians to garner more support for strike-free legislation.
Lower Makefield resident Rafe Schach thought it would be good for Pennsylvania to study the contract negotiation practices of the 37 states that already make teacher strikes illegal. Shach's children go to private school but he is interested in ending strikes, he said.
Campbell's concern with ending strikes began after Pennsbury School District teachers went on strike for 21 days during a contract dispute in 2005. He organized StopTeacherStrikes.com, a group of parents and teachers who support the strike-free bill.
“A private organization should not have the right to shut down a public learning facility,” said Campbell at the meeting.
Pennsbury teachers union vice president Michelle Marcinkus attended the first half-hour of the meeting. She said she wanted to see how many interested people would show up.
Steil describes bill to end teacher strikes
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
Parents and teachers recently listened to state Rep. Dave Steil describe the workings of a bill to end teacher strikes.
Strike-Free Education Act House Bill 1369, if passed by the state Legislature, would make strikes illegal and add several mediation steps to the bargaining process between teachers unions and school districts. If those steps still result in a stalemate, the new law ultimately would require four negotiating sessions a month until an agreement is reached. It would make each step of the process transparent to the public.
Steil, R-31, plans to retire shortly. He urged listeners to ask their state representatives to support the bill.
“It happens when a mass of people get behind it and say, "We want this done,' ” he said.
The meeting last week at the Yardley Community Center and attended by about 35 people who wanted to know more about the legislation, was organized by local teacher strikes opponent Simon Campbell of Lower Makefield.
Jill Basile, the parent of a child in the Souderton School District, also spoke at the meeting.
The Souderton district was shut down recently for 13 school days during a strike. Basile's anger propelled her into action, she said. She made fliers, called the local media and is meeting with local politicians to garner more support for strike-free legislation.
Lower Makefield resident Rafe Schach thought it would be good for Pennsylvania to study the contract negotiation practices of the 37 states that already make teacher strikes illegal. Shach's children go to private school but he is interested in ending strikes, he said.
Campbell's concern with ending strikes began after Pennsbury School District teachers went on strike for 21 days during a contract dispute in 2005. He organized StopTeacherStrikes.com, a group of parents and teachers who support the strike-free bill.
“A private organization should not have the right to shut down a public learning facility,” said Campbell at the meeting.
Pennsbury teachers union vice president Michelle Marcinkus attended the first half-hour of the meeting. She said she wanted to see how many interested people would show up.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Palisades Strike Averted
From the Intelligencer.
Gotta love the comments section...
Teachers, board reach tentative deal
By AMANDA CREGAN, The Intelligencer
Palisades parents can breathe a sigh of relief.
The school district announced Wednesday that a tentative agreement has been reached between the teachers union and school board following negotiations Tuesday night.
Details of the new contract won't be released until both sides finalize the deal.
“Our ratification process usually takes about two weeks, and we will not discuss terms of the agreement until the process has been completed,” said Palisades teachers union Co-President Laurie Borger.
Parents and school administrators were bracing for a strike this week if teachers union representatives did not see contract talks significantly progress.
Last week, the 160-member teachers union authorized its leadership to call a strike, and Pennsylvania State Education Association representative Gary Smith said he was preparing for the worst.
“I think it's very likely,” Smith said late last week. “The board is just simply not being forthright with the association and the sides are very far apart. I can't see the board moving to anywhere near middle ground for a settlement.”
Teachers union and school board members would not discuss any details of the unexpected agreement.
In their old contract, salaries ranged from $40,000 to $93,505.
Teachers pay 11 percent of their health insurance premium and are responsible for prescription drug co-pays.
The benefits package also includes life insurance, liability insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability protection.
In the $36 million district budget for 2008-09, salary and benefits total nearly $24 million.
That contract expired June 30; talks began in January.
This fall, Palisades teachers have been working to rule, which means their workday ends at school dismissal and they do not participate in extra school activities.
It was also the first time the district has ever seen a strike authorization by teachers.
PSEA representative Smith could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
School board members declined to publicly mention the tentative agreement at their scheduled board meeting Wednesday night.
Gotta love the comments section...
Teachers, board reach tentative deal
By AMANDA CREGAN, The Intelligencer
Palisades parents can breathe a sigh of relief.
The school district announced Wednesday that a tentative agreement has been reached between the teachers union and school board following negotiations Tuesday night.
Details of the new contract won't be released until both sides finalize the deal.
“Our ratification process usually takes about two weeks, and we will not discuss terms of the agreement until the process has been completed,” said Palisades teachers union Co-President Laurie Borger.
Parents and school administrators were bracing for a strike this week if teachers union representatives did not see contract talks significantly progress.
Last week, the 160-member teachers union authorized its leadership to call a strike, and Pennsylvania State Education Association representative Gary Smith said he was preparing for the worst.
“I think it's very likely,” Smith said late last week. “The board is just simply not being forthright with the association and the sides are very far apart. I can't see the board moving to anywhere near middle ground for a settlement.”
Teachers union and school board members would not discuss any details of the unexpected agreement.
In their old contract, salaries ranged from $40,000 to $93,505.
Teachers pay 11 percent of their health insurance premium and are responsible for prescription drug co-pays.
The benefits package also includes life insurance, liability insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability protection.
In the $36 million district budget for 2008-09, salary and benefits total nearly $24 million.
That contract expired June 30; talks began in January.
This fall, Palisades teachers have been working to rule, which means their workday ends at school dismissal and they do not participate in extra school activities.
It was also the first time the district has ever seen a strike authorization by teachers.
PSEA representative Smith could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
School board members declined to publicly mention the tentative agreement at their scheduled board meeting Wednesday night.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Effort mounts to stop teacher strikes
From the Intelligencer
Effort mounts to stop teacher strikes
By RICH PIETRAS, The Intelligencer
Jill Basile is determined to get teacher strikes struck down. And it appears she has found a brother in arms for her battle, and perhaps a small army.
Basile, a 42-year-old resident of Harleysville, hosted a town hall meeting Monday night for more than two hours at the Indian Crest Public Library in Telford to discuss teacher strikes, and teachers unions — a hot topic considering current labor unrest in the Souderton Area School District.
“I suffered through a school strike when I was at Neshaminy (High School) that lasted two-and-half months when I was a freshman,” Basile said. “I swore after that, I would never let my children go through something like that ... it was horrible.”
And she seems to be sticking to her promise, because Basile has a first-grade daughter in the Souderton Area School District who was forced out of school early in September. And although the strike ended after 13 days, it appears the determined mother of two is just getting started.
The guest speaker for the event was Simon Campbell, a grass roots activist opposed to teachers' right to strike in Pennsylvania.
He is also the president of StopTeacherStrikes Inc., whose Web site provides information on everything from how many school districts are at immediate risk of a strike, to the commonwealth's constitution, which Simon believes makes teacher strikes illegal.
Expecting only 30 people to show up, Basile was surprised to see 60 people fill the meeting room of the library. She was also thrilled to have Campbell come on board. Campbell, 41, who hails from England, settled in Pennsylvania in 2004 and has three children in the Pennsbury School District. It was Simon's exposure to a teachers strike there in the fall of 2005 that inspired him to form StopTeacherStrikes in March 2006. The unpaid volunteer has championed the cause of strike-free education and voluntary unionism ever since.
“I'd never even heard of a teachers strike until I moved to the states,” Simon said in front of a mixed crowd of parents and students as well as a couple of school board members. “I couldn't believe such a thing was allowed.”
A big part of the evening was devoted to the discussion of the Strike Free Education Act, House Bill 1369, which Simon and Basile wholeheartedly support.
Although the bill will not be signed into law this year, Simon, who turned the meeting into a mini civics lesson, urged the audience to do whatever it could to ensure the bill will pass and add Pennsylvania to the other 37 states that ban teacher strikes.
Basile said she believes that every side has been heard in the Souderton dispute but the residents.
“Where are the children's rights?” Basile asked. “The unions are running our education system, not us.”
Ernie Rosato, 46, Upper Salford, who has a child attending Souderton Area High School, also felt empowered after the meeting and hoped others felt the same way.
“We have a choice as a community to make a stand,” Rosato said. “It's time the community takes back what's really ours by telling the school board that strike should not be allowed and ask them to put their thoughts together on House Bill 1369.”
Effort mounts to stop teacher strikes
By RICH PIETRAS, The Intelligencer
Jill Basile is determined to get teacher strikes struck down. And it appears she has found a brother in arms for her battle, and perhaps a small army.
Basile, a 42-year-old resident of Harleysville, hosted a town hall meeting Monday night for more than two hours at the Indian Crest Public Library in Telford to discuss teacher strikes, and teachers unions — a hot topic considering current labor unrest in the Souderton Area School District.
“I suffered through a school strike when I was at Neshaminy (High School) that lasted two-and-half months when I was a freshman,” Basile said. “I swore after that, I would never let my children go through something like that ... it was horrible.”
And she seems to be sticking to her promise, because Basile has a first-grade daughter in the Souderton Area School District who was forced out of school early in September. And although the strike ended after 13 days, it appears the determined mother of two is just getting started.
The guest speaker for the event was Simon Campbell, a grass roots activist opposed to teachers' right to strike in Pennsylvania.
He is also the president of StopTeacherStrikes Inc., whose Web site provides information on everything from how many school districts are at immediate risk of a strike, to the commonwealth's constitution, which Simon believes makes teacher strikes illegal.
Expecting only 30 people to show up, Basile was surprised to see 60 people fill the meeting room of the library. She was also thrilled to have Campbell come on board. Campbell, 41, who hails from England, settled in Pennsylvania in 2004 and has three children in the Pennsbury School District. It was Simon's exposure to a teachers strike there in the fall of 2005 that inspired him to form StopTeacherStrikes in March 2006. The unpaid volunteer has championed the cause of strike-free education and voluntary unionism ever since.
“I'd never even heard of a teachers strike until I moved to the states,” Simon said in front of a mixed crowd of parents and students as well as a couple of school board members. “I couldn't believe such a thing was allowed.”
A big part of the evening was devoted to the discussion of the Strike Free Education Act, House Bill 1369, which Simon and Basile wholeheartedly support.
Although the bill will not be signed into law this year, Simon, who turned the meeting into a mini civics lesson, urged the audience to do whatever it could to ensure the bill will pass and add Pennsylvania to the other 37 states that ban teacher strikes.
Basile said she believes that every side has been heard in the Souderton dispute but the residents.
“Where are the children's rights?” Basile asked. “The unions are running our education system, not us.”
Ernie Rosato, 46, Upper Salford, who has a child attending Souderton Area High School, also felt empowered after the meeting and hoped others felt the same way.
“We have a choice as a community to make a stand,” Rosato said. “It's time the community takes back what's really ours by telling the school board that strike should not be allowed and ask them to put their thoughts together on House Bill 1369.”
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