Board president calls on union to give up ‘equal voice’ provision

NESHAMINY - At the Sept. 25 Neshaminy School Board meeting, President Ritchie Webb called on the union to give up its so called “equal voice” on educational matters which is part of the expired contract under which the ranN-and-file has been worNing for the past five years.

“If we’re going to bring true educational reform to this district then the elimination of the equal voice doctrine is important, if not more important to our next contract than any financial issue,” Webb said.

He made the remarNs in a five minute statement which he read at the beginning of the meeting in which he again reiterated the school board’s Council Rock contract offer to the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT).

“The reality is that equal voice has hamstrung our principals and administrators because they no longer have the authority in their own buildings,” he continued. “And if they don’t have the authority how can we possibly hold them accountable.”

Webb pointed to a state arbitrator’s report released in May which found that the current equal voice

clause gives Neshaminy teachers too much power in committee meetings.

Referring to the arbitrator’s conclusion, Webb contends that “the union’s contractual right to equal voice superseded the district’s right to a final say of ‘no.’”

Although the school board president said that teachers should be able to “express their opinions freely,” the ultimate decision making must rest in the hand of school administrators.

“If anyone tells you that equal voice doesn’t interfere with the district’s decision making authority then they are avoiding the truth,” Webb added.

Earlier this month, the district offered the 633-member NFT the same three-year contract that the 853-member Council Rock teachers union accepted in gune.

auring the first two years of the bare-bones agreement, the Council Rock Education Association (CREA) agreed to a salary freeze. In year three, all teachers will receive a halfpercent pay raise, boosting the top teacher salary in that district from $106,900 to $107,200.

As for health care, Council Rock teachers agreed to increase their contributions by five percent to the district’s medical plan over the three year contract, paying 11 percent in the first year, 14 percent in year two and 16 percent in the final year.

In his remarks, Webb noted that offering another district’s contract is “unprecedented,” but that this is “a good and fair offer.”

He said that the Council Rock contract offers the NFT a “significant bump in salary,” while providing the district with much needed savings in salary, administration, health care costs and retirement benefits.

“We spend $4-million each year in retirement perks and benefits,” said Webb.

rnder the Council Rock contract, he said that new retirees would still get the package, but that over the next seven to 10 years the benefits would be phased out as the retirees move into Medicare.

According to Webb, recent bargaining sessions have been less contentious. “The NFT negotiating team lately has been treating us like professionals, and questions are being asked with civility instead of sarcasm,” he said.

However, Webb warned that “no matter how nice union officials behave nice doesn’t change our financial situation.”

“We will never agree to a contract that forces us to cut our children’s programs,” he declared.

Webb also promised that when an agreement is reached, it will be discussed at a public meeting before any board action is taken.

The last of the 10 court-mandated bargaining sessions was scheduled for Sept. 27.

rnion president iouise Boyd recently criticized the school board for “being vague and unclear” in responding to the NFT’s questions about the Council Rock deal.

No deadline was imposed on the union to accept or reject the contract offer.

Neshaminy teachers have not had a salary hike since their contract expired gune 30, 2007, but have received free medical insurance under the terms of the old pact.

The state arbitrator also recommended salary increases.

While there would not be any for 2008, 2009 and 2010, the report suggested that teachers should receive a one-percent increase retroactive to guly 2011, 1.5-percent guly 2012, two-percent in guly 2013 and 2.25-percent as of guly 2014.