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Negotiations took place on Monday, November 16 between the Peters Township School District and the Peters Township Federation of Teachers (PTFT).

This was the 20th session between the two parties since negotiations began in March, and the third since the teacher strike began on October 28, 2015. The district's 285 teachers have been without a contract since their last five-year pact expired Aug. 31.

The meeting began with a formal (tabled) offer from the PTFT that included:

• Removal of the request for a stipend related to class size
• Raises of $2,300 for all teachers annually for the life of the contract
• The PTFT agreed to an increase in healthcare contributions of $5/month annually for individual coverage over the life of the contract and $10/month annually for family coverage with a $15 increase in the final year. (current contributions are $70/mo. for individual coverage and $145/mo. for family coverage)
• Removed request for full health care coverage for retirees; instead, proposed an increase to the District’s contribution to the annual retirement healthcare stipend
• A reduction of contract steps from 17 to 16 (current jump step is a nearly $40,000 raise in a single year at step 17)
• Maintain a 7.5 hour work day
• Maintain a 193 day work year
• Consistent with their October offer, the PTFT also requested increases in stipends for mentor teachers, facilitators and extra duty pay, compensation for years of service, training rates, and severance pay.

This was followed by a new formal offer from the District that included the following:

• Maintain the 193 day work year, including the PTFT request for additional clerical time
• A reduction in the requested work day from 8 hours to 7.75 hours. (The District intends to use the additional time to extend the lunch period for elementary students.)
• The District also agreed that reasonable efforts would be made to keep class sizes to a level that is appropriate for the subject or grade level involved.
• Consistent with previous offers, the District maintained the following financial points:
• Raises of $500 annually for teachers on steps 1-16; $200 annually for Step 17
• Healthcare contributions of $110/mo. (first year) to $150/mo. (fifth year) for individual coverage
• Healthcare contributions of $185/mo. (first year) to $345/mo. (fifth year) for family coverage.
• The offer also includes multiple health plans that allow employees the option of a lower monthly contribution through a plan with a deductible and co-pays.

The PTFT did not provide a response to the offer by the District, and the session was ended by the mediator.

“Our financial realities weigh heavily on all of us,” said Superintendent Dr. Jeannine French. “Our goal is to get our students and teachers back in the classroom, but we cannot agree to a contract that is fiscally irresponsible to our community and the future of this District.”

The District requested another meeting date. It will be posted on the District website as soon as it is available.

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