Pass It On Pennsbury
A Message from the Pennsbury Education Association
The April 21st Negotiation Session

On April 21, 2011, representatives from the negotiating teams of the Pennsbury Education Association and the Pennsbury School Board finally met! They hadn’t met since August, 2010. For three months prior to this meeting, hundreds of PEA members filled the Fallsington gymnasium, attending Pennsbury School Board meetings asking them to meet. PEA members came with messages basically saying, “WE GET IT” and “WE ARE READY TO TALK.”

Well, our message was heard! A meeting between the school board’s negotiating team and PEA was called by state mediator, John Cairns on Thursday, April 21st. Finally there was a chance for both sides to talk with each other in a small setting where dialogue could really take place. Finally there was a chance for PEA to prove to the Pennsbury community that they understand the harsh economic times that are upon us. Finally, there was a chance for the Pennsbury Education Association to work collaboratively with the school board during this extremely challenging budget year, exacerbated by cuts from Harrisburg.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, the meeting was cut short and ended before the above goals could be met. Two school board members who are NOT on the school board’s negotiating team entered the meeting unannounced and demanded to “observe” the meeting. This action prompted the state mediator to end the meeting. School board president Gene Dolnick stated in a press release that is posted on the Pennsbury website, “A chance to reach a settlement was derailed by two board members. This action was disrespectful to the negotiating process and the entire Pennsbury community.”

Why would these two school board members interrupt talks between PEA and the Pennsbury School Board? The answer is POLITICS! One of these school board members was quoted in the Yardley News, stating that he entered the meeting because there was “a sense of urgency and the use of secrecy by board directors Dolnick and Goldberg alarmed me to the possibility that they may be trying to ramrod a contract through in quick order.” NOTHING HAS BEEN QUICK ABOUT SETTLING THIS CONTRACT. This was the first time both sides had gotten together in approximately nine months. Why the sense of urgency? How about a sense of celebration! The other school board member was quoted in the same Yardley News article saying, “Dolnick and Goldberg intended to keep everything hidden from public scrutiny because no media announcement had been made of this secret negotiating session.” Saying that this was a secret meeting is simply untrue. Both sides had announced to the papers that the meeting was being held. The Yardley News confirms this in their article. One can only assume the school board members were notified of this meeting. If this was a secret meeting, these two school board members would not have been able to interrupt it like they did. Finally, Mr. Dolnick is quoted as saying, “Last night was an opportunity to hear what teachers have said at board

meetings recently – „We get it‟ – and to move forward. That was thwarted by the imperious actions of Simon Campbell and Allan Weisel under the guise they only wanted to observe.”

Members of the Pennsbury Education Association are at a loss for words. There seems to be little left for them to do to bring both sides to the bargaining table. We understand why these two school board members don’t want to hear what the PEA membership has to say. Once the contract is settled, they have nothing left to talk about. They won’t be able to “sell” their negative image of Pennsbury and its teachers to the community. Candidates who agree with Campbell and Weisel tear down the very fabric of Pennsbury while claiming they want to make a “Better Pennsbury.” However, we are not the only ones who understand this. Here is just a sampling of quotes you may have read from bloggers on a recent Bucks County Courier Times editorial:

- “shame on Simon Campbell and Allan Weisel for pulling a juvenile stunt that had the exact effect they intended. To stop the talks because they are not done the way these 2 want. It‟s not about them – it should be about the kids.”

- “a school board member who stands in the way of stopping progress in reaching an agreement does not represent me.”
- “disrupting a meeting is not the way forward . . . Simon Campbell and Allan Weisel need to stop pulling stunts and start moving us towards a settlement.”

We ask you, the Pennsbury community, to please contact your school board members and urge them to negotiate. We also ask you to vote in the upcoming primary election. Make sure your vote on May 17th demonstrates your commitment to education. This community deserves better than what took place during the April 21st negotiation session. You can make the difference.

Pennsbury Education Association spokesperson responds to school board negotiator comments in BucksLocalNews Q&A (EXCLUSIVE)
Published: Monday, January 31, 2011    

By Petra Chesner Schlatter
BucksLocalNews.com

PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT - In light of the latest contract talks, which have been an ongoing battle for awhile between the Pennsbury School Board of Directors and the Pennsbury Education Association (PEA), representatives from each party responded to questions posed by BucksLocalNews.com.

Jeffrey Sultanik, chief negotiator for the Pennsbury School Board, responded to questions posed in an e-mail on Friday, Jan. 28.

Lucy Walter, spokesperson for the Pennsbury Education Association (PEA), made comments in response to Sultanik’s comments by phone with BucksLocalNews.com.

PEA president George Miller had indicated earlier that the PEA would prefer to deal with the school board and not Sultanik.

SULTANIK: “George Miller has no right to dictate who the board chooses to articulate its position at the bargaining table. If the union takes that position it would be an unfair labor practice under the Public Employee Relations Act.”

The PEA was asked whether they wanted to talk with Sultanik.

PEA: “We have always met with Jeff Sultanik at the table, in fact until July of 2010; we had met with only Mr. Sultanik since the school board had not shown up at any of the negotiating sessions. Our concern was that no member of the school board was at the table, so anything said could not have a response because Mr. Sultanik then had to stop the meeting and reconvene at another date, after he had spoken with the school board's negotiating team. We felt it would be more efficient to have the school board members at the table in the same way PEA had its negotiating team at the table.”

- What is the status of negotiations with the PEA?

SULTANIK: “The board has made it known to the union leadership what the union has to accept to get to a contract settlement and the association has failed to understand the district's economic constraints and refused to counter the board's unofficial proposal.”

- When was the last time that the talks took place?

SULTANIK: “The last face-to-face session took place in August, 2010.”

- Why hasn't there been a meeting?

SULTANIK: “First, the board has not been able to hold a formal negotiation session with the PEA due to the long-term absence of the PEA’s chief negotiator, Gary Smith. Mr. Smith excused himself from the negotiation process starting in December and has stated that he will not be available for sessions until Jan. 24. He has been out of the country during this time period.

“Second, the school board has been waiting to receive a counterproposal from the PEA since August - when the union rejected the board’s “off-the-record” proposal. The PEA had indicated it would provide a response, but never did. Were the school board to return to the table with a new proposal, it would be negotiating against itself.

“Third, it is difficult for the school board to return to the table knowing that the PEA still believes its salary and health care demands are reasonable and realistic in spite of the many financial challenges the school district is facing and has tried to communicate to the public. The school board approved a resolution at the Jan. 20 meeting agreeing not to raise taxes above the 1.4 percent state index, a tax increase that will not generate nearly enough money to replace the revenue the district has lost due to the economy or cover the rising expenses the district faces in the areas of retirement benefits -- let alone the unrealistic salary and health benefits being sought by the teachers’ union.

“The union is making a simplistic and unsupportable argument to start talking, when the union itself has admitted that it is not on the same page as the board. Though the board is not opposed to conducting a face-to-face session, the talks will not go anywhere unless the union accepts a tax neutral contract.

“For there to be movement toward a settlement, the PEA leadership and membership must make an effort to better understand the financial complications that exist today and come back to the school board with a counter-offer that reflects that understanding.

"The district's financial concerns, which are not going to go away anytime soon, are prohibiting the establishment of a contract reminiscent of those reached in the past.

"Once the PEA lets go of the idea it will be able to secure a contract like those reached in better times, we will be able to bridge the enormous and almost irreconcilable gap that exists between our proposals.”

WALTER: “Completely untrue. Although Mr. Smith has not been available, our negotiating team has always said that they would meet with the school board members without Mr. Smith present if the board was willing to do the same "About Mr. Sultanik and his information about the off-the-record proposal, we cannot negotiate an off-the-record proposal. PEA has twice changed its proposal without any official response from the board. They need to put the off-the-record proposal on the table so we can begin to negotiate from that point.

“The school board is unrealistic to believe that negotiations can take place without them making any movement on their side. Other districts have been able to settle contracts with reasonable financial agreements. The only reason Pennsbury has not is because they are unwilling to move off their offer of zero (percent pay increase.)

“The statement, ‘Let’s talk,’ is simplistic, but it is the only way agreements can ever take place.”

- When did the board give the last offer to the PEA?

SULTANIK: “August of 2010”

WALTER: “If Mr. Sultanik says the offer of August of 2010 is the new formal position of the school board, we can start negotiating from that point. If not, then the only offer that we have been given is March of 2010.”

- Can you tell me anything about that offer?

SULTANIK: “The unofficial offer is a tax neutral proposal for district taxpayers.”

WALTER: “We have offered early retirement incentives, changes in health care, reduction in salary increase, an increase in the amount that we would pay toward health care and the board’s response has still been zero. They need to let go of the idea that the zero-percent increase is the only offer they can give to PEA. Educational stability is going to be a reality in Pennsbury.”

- The PEA members are wearing buttons that read, "Let's Talk." What is your response to that?
SULTANIK: “The PEA members are not being told about the economic realities of the district. The PEA is not ready to talk while it asks for an increase that is substantially in excess of the $1,798,016 that will be generated for the tax increase permitted by Act 1 for the 2011-12 school year. The district will have to engage in Draconian cuts to get close to funding the union's irrational demands. Talking with the union is a complete waste of time and effort while the union's proposal is in the stratosphere…The union needs to get ‘real’ before substantive talks can take place.”

WALTER: “Every district in Pennsylvania is dealing with Act 1 items like two sick days for every one you take have nothing to do with Act 1, but have to do with a negative attitude of the school board towards its teachers. We disagree entirely with Mr. Sultanik’s comments about talking. We believe a new offer and discussion about it would not be a complete waste of time and effort and the school board’s position of zero is irrational.

"We have looked at the reality of settlement in Abington, New Hope-Solebury and Bristol Township – and we know that real solutions can be reached when school boards are willing to put an offer on the table. All of those districts are under Act 1 and the same economic constraints that Pennsbury feels. Their boards have been able to be fiscally responsible enough to have planned for and executed reasonable contracts.”

Originally published Monday, Jan. 31.

Let’s Talk

On January 20, 2011 over 500 members of the Pennsbury Education Association presented the Pennsbury School Board with a message: Let’s Talk. Representatives from each school presented the school board with a petition signed by their PEA members asking the board to negotiate. PEA has made the last “on the record” offer and we are anxiously waiting to hear an official offer from the school board.

School board president, Mr. Gene Dolnick, had kind words to say about our presence at the school board meeting that night. He said that he was waiting for our negotiating team to give a counter offer to their last offer. Their last offer was “off the record.” Our negotiating team asked the school board to make it an “on the record” offer but sadly they refused. This gave our team no choice but to reject their “off the record” offer. Unfortunately, we are afraid that this is exactly what the school board wanted because they immediately went public and called their “off the record” offer a litmus test. They claimed that they were trying to see if we really wanted to work with the district and used our rejection as a way to continue to depict us as “greedy teachers.”

We are hopeful, however. As we left the January 20th school board meeting, Mr. Dolnick said, “This board is ready to negotiate.” Now we wait and see if he meant what he said.

Mr. Jeffrey Sultanik, chief negotiator for the Pennsbury School board, said in a memo to the public “. . . for there to be movement toward a settlement, the PEA leadership and membership must make an effort to better understand the financial complications that exist today and come back to the School Board with a counter-offer that reflects that understanding.”

That is exactly what we are trying to do with our “Let’s Talk” campaign. We ask the school board to make us a new “on the record” offer. We ask the public to contact their school board representatives and ask them to take part in these negotiations. The only way to solve our problems are through talking.

Let’s Talk

Sporting buttons that said "Let's TALK," the Pennsbury Education Association members urged the school board to return to the bargaining table.

Bucks County Courier Times, January 21, 2011
Pennsbury Education Association members packed the district school board meeting Thursday night to urge board members to resume contract talks.

"We want to settle. Let's talk," said Tammy Leimer, a social worker representing the staff at Fallsington Elementary School.

Several staff members took turns speaking before the board and presenting petitions to the school directors to encourage a return to the bargaining table. The PEA members sported their gray union shirts and buttons that said "Let's TALK."

The last negotiating session was held in mid-August.

PEA members have been working without a new contract since the beginning of the school year. They pointed to the new contract between the New Hope-Solebury School District and its teachers union and said Pennsbury should be able to come up with a deal too.

The union represents about 800 teachers, guidance counselors, librarians, school nurses, psychologists and social workers, officials said.

The board proposed a two-year agreement in March 2010 with no salary hikes and greater health care contributions from PEA members.

The union is asking for a five-year deal with annual 2.9 percent salary hikes. The pay increases would be in addition to any other additional compensation they could receive for years of service and educational attainment.

Plus, PEA members want to continue contributing 10 percent toward their health care premiums each year of the new deal.

Board President Gene Dolnick told the board members Thursday night that there seems to be "a disconnect" between what they are asking for and where the negotiations stand.

"We're waiting for your organization to make a counter proposal," Dolnick said. "This board stands ready to meet with your representative and the state mediator."

The union members made a quick exit from the meeting room at Fallsington Elementary when board member Simon Campbell started talking about the financial limitations facing the district in the age of Act 1.

"We would have to find $6 million in cuts," Campbell said, if the board were to agree to the terms of the contract proposed by the union.

PEA members will continue to wear the "Let's TALK" buttons while teaching in their classrooms, beginning today, said union spokeswoman Lucy Walter.

"I don't think something like 'Let's TALK' is gong to hurt our students," Walter said after the meeting. "We always teach them that when there is a problem you are supposed to sit down and talk about it."

                 

Pennsbury union shows ‘unity’ outside the high school;
school board member responds

Monday, October 11, 2010
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; BucksLocalNews.com
Wearing black, members of the Pennsbury Education Association (PEA) stood outside Pennsbury High School Friday morning in a show of silent unity. Moments later, they entered the school building - together.

“It was a way for our members to show unity and their concern about their current contract situation without affecting the educational process," explained Lucy Walter, PEA spokesperson. “It is not the intention to upset the community,” she told BucksLocalNews.com.

“Teachers actually came in early in many cases to go into the building to do what they needed to do so they could join together and come into the building together as a sign of unity,” said Walter.

According to Walter, PEA members have been wearing black on Fridays “as a reminder that we have no contract.

It’s simply a unity for our members - that we are united - that we don’t have a contract and we, the PEA, are committed to working toward settlement.

“We continue to hope for a settlement,” she said. “We continue to do what we always do for the students of Pennsbury. We hope the school board will put an offer on the table to move negotiations forward as they have not offered anything to us since last March.”

Kathleen Zawacki, a Pennsbury School Board member, who has been critical of the PEA, sent an e-mail to BucksLocalNews.com saying that she was advised by a “PTO mom of an incident that occurred at the high school.

“Her child came home very angry because according to the student, about 30 to 40 teachers, dressed in black, were standing outside (I believe at the bus docks) in protest,” she said.

“At about 7:10 all of them walked, as a group, into the building,” Zawacki said. “The student was very angry at their behavior. The parent does not believe she is in a position to say anything because she is active in the PTO.”

Zawacki said, “This type of infantile behavior has no place on school grounds or where students are present.

It only confirms the selfishness of the PEA leaders.

“The PEA continues to say that what they are asking for is ultimately for the students. If this is the way they show concern for the students, then they should find jobs in areas other than education,” she continued.

“Their behavior is an abomination and an affront to students, parents and the entire Pennsbury community,” Zawacki said. “It should not be tolerated. This group of teachers is making it difficult for the decent, dedicated teachers who truly do care about the students.”

Lucy Walter reacted to Zawacki’s comments in an e-mail to BucksLocalNews.com.

“The decision to meet and walk in together was to show support for each other and solidarity,” Walter said.

“It also showed that the teachers are concerned that a contract offer has not been put on the table by the school board since March of last year.”

She continued, “Further we wanted the community to recognize that although we are, as Mrs. Zawacki notes, ‘…decent, dedicated teachers who really do care about the students,’ we are also Pennsbury Education Association members who want our community to recognize that a settlement is needed.”

Walter said the teachers wore black “as they have been doing for the many months that they have been working without a contract. It is a statement of support for our negotiating team that has not affected the educational process.

“This is evidenced by the fact that Mrs. Zawacki has not been aware that teachers have been wearing black or PEA shirts on Fridays since last winter,” Walter said. “Also, Mrs. Zawacki may not be aware that this was homecoming weekend at the high school and, in fact, many students were also in black or orange.

“Additionally, in many schools throughout the school district, Fridays are typically ‘Falcon Fridays when school colors, orange and black, are worn to show school spirit, a tradition that dates back over 30 years,” she continued.

“The need for this school board director to attack teachers and resort to name-calling demonstrates her inability to function in an ethical manner under the Pennsylvania School Board Association’s Code of Conduct,” Walter noted.

“As stated in the Pennsylvania School Board Association’s Preamble to their Code of Conduct it is a school board member’s duty to be ‘Striving towards ideal conditions for effective school board service to our community, in a spirit of teamwork and devotion to public education…’ It is hard to imagine how these attacks accomplish that goal," Walter continued.

“PEA believes we, as a community, must get beyond derogatory comments,” Walter said. “We remain committed to our students and continue to work in their best interest. We encourage parents to review the school board’s offer regarding classroom and building conditions and recognize the negative impact the conditions offered would have on their child’s education. PEA encourages the community to ask that a realistic offer be placed on the table.”

Pennsbury teachers union outlines negotiation status with its members

Friday, October 1, 2010
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; BucksLocalNews.com
Lucy Walter, the spokesperson for the Pennsbury Education Association (PEA) released a statement Thursday with details of the PEA’s general membership meeting held on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Walter said the “negotiating team made a commitment to the membership in June that information on contract talks would be shared in the fall. This meeting answers the member’s need for transparency in the negotiating process.”

The negotiating team presented the current status of negotiations. Walter said, “They stated that the school board’s original offer remains on the table: zero-percent salary increases, changes in healthcare plans and contributions, and the most regressive language seen in the history of Pennsylvania.

“They restated that the school board has not given a formal offer towards negotiating a settlement since its original offer in March of 2010, the offer given out to the membership previously. They reviewed all the changes that have been made in our original offer without the school board responding in kind. Gary Smith, negotiator for the PEA, spoke of the options open to the membership at this time: arbitration, fact- finding, work to rule, work stoppage and strike.

Walter commented on what the PEA refers to as “positives.” “School board members at the table have begun talking about our Early Retirement Incentive offer,” she said. “No agreement has been reached but we are hopeful this may be an area of agreement. We believe this may help to relieve the economic impact of a settlement.”

She continued, “Letters to the Editor written by supporters as well as our statements have been published and effective in having our position heard. The Settlement Task Force was effective in showcasing the positive volunteerism Pennsbury’s teachers have always done for their school community.”

The statement addresses the “current climate.”

Walter said, “The community needs to realize that the current condition, teachers working without a contract, cannot go on forever. It is only with the community’s help that we can ensure that there never is a strike.

“The public,” she said, “needs to get concerned that some school board members are using the teachers and students of Pennsbury as pawns in their own personal political game. The actions and attitudes of certain school board directors are putting the excellent education and reputation of the Pennsbury School District at risk.

“These board members,” she continued, “have political agendas that are advanced by their disrespectful and divisive behaviors and comments. Their latest vote to post teacher’s salaries and, the comments made following that release, show the motivations of Mrs. Zawacki, Mr. Weisel, and Mr. Campbell to be the opposite of responsible negotiating.

“They have stated their opposition to reaching settlement regardless of the educational cost to the school and community,” Walter said. “The public must send the message that they want the board to stop this divisive behavior and settle this contract in an effort to preserve Pennsbury.”

The PEA statement concludes with a question: “Will there be another meeting? At the next meeting we hope to be ready to call for a vote. The hope of the negotiating team is that they will be able to call for a ratification vote rather than looking for a vote on any other options.”

                                                       
PEA has been working hard to share our concerns about the budget process with the community. During the previous school year the school board cut or curtailed educationally significant programs. Full-day kindergarten was eliminated, as was the Instructional Support Team (IST) program. Severe cuts were made to the Pupil Assistance Tutor (PAT) program. These programs provided crucial educational supports to many of our students with the most severe academic needs. This year, the school board is considering a host of additional cuts to the programs, services and staff which make Pennsbury the valued and successful district it is. These reductions in programs, services, and staff include, but are not limited to

PEA is fully aware of the impact of the current economic situation on our community. Our members and their families are impacted by this situation as well. However, we believe that a commitment to quality education must be a top priority of every community. PEA remains truly committed to the mission statement of the Pennsbury School District; our aim is to see that all students reach their highest potential by developing their talents as they master the skills necessary to become productive, contributing members of society. We believe, as the mission statement proclaims, that this is best accomplished by providing “a diverse educational program with the involvement and support of families and community.”  We ask that you, as members of the Pennsbury community, become actively involved in the school board’s discussions and decisions. One way to do this is to attend the school board meetings.
 
In addition to the budget, PEA has concerns about the current status of contract negotiations. To date, our negotiating team has not received a reasonable offer from the school board. Without such an offer, an unnecessary obstacle is thrown in the way of meaningful negotiations. Our members have directed our side of the bargaining table to make every effort to secure a contract that is fair to both teachers and taxpayers. It is important to note that during the 2009-2010 school year, PEA was the only teachers’ association in the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to agree to a 0% salary guide increase.  It’s also important to remember that contract negotiations affect not just the current membership; the tenor and length of these negotiations will affect the quality of personnel attracted to Pennsbury. Our district has long been able to attract, and hire, top tier talent because of its strong reputation as a district dedicated to excellence. PEA is only seeking a fair and reasonable contract in line with those negotiated within surrounding districts.                                                                                      

PEA invites you to browse through our website and view the activities in which PEA members participate. You will also find information about the many “hats” our members wear as they participate in various roles throughout the district. In addition, our website contains a number of opinion pieces about issues of concern districtwide. Please remember that despite the difficult and complex issues the members of PEA are facing, we continue to devote ourselves to the consistent delivery of quality instruction to our students all day, every day. PEA’s commitment to educational excellence is unwavering. Each member of the Pennsbury Education Association has a deep-seated, longstanding pride in our profession, our education association, and our district. Thank you for your interest and your support.

 

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