North Penn teachers go out on strike

Classes in Montgomery County's largest school district have been canceled for Monday after negotiators failed Sunday to broker a contract agreement between the teachers union and the school board.

The walkout in the North Penn School District follows months of contentious talks, court actions, and severed negotiations.

The union and school board negotiated for seven hours Sunday at district offices in Lansdale. According to the district Web site, the board made its last proposal to the union about 7:45 p.m. At 8:50, the district issued an announcement that there would be no school Monday.

"The strike could run seven days if it goes its full duration," said Alan Malachowski, president of the North Penn Education Association, the union that represents the district's 1,070 teachers. "We're hopeful it can be shorter than that if we can get back to the table and continue bargaining."

The walkout cannot run longer because state law requires students to have 180 school days before June 30, Malachowski said.

Talks will resume Monday with a state mediator, said Vincent Sherpinsky, school board president.

Both sides exchanged several proposals but failed to reach an accord.

Sherpinsky said the district's last offer included an 18.81 percent cumulative pay increase over the course of five years. He said the union wanted a cumulative total pay increase of 23.5 percent.

The union's final offer, which would have removed $1.25 million from an earlier agreement reached in nonbinding arbitration, was rejected by the school board.

"We didn't see that as resolving the issues we're going to face," Sherpinsky said.

The teachers' contract expired Sept. 1.

When the North Penn Education Association threatened to strike on the first day of school, the school board sought an injunction and a judge ordered teachers to report to work. The next week, the board proposed nonbinding arbitration and the union accepted.

Arbitrators recommended a five-year contract with no salary increase in the first year and raises of between 2.5 and 2.85 percent in each of the next four years.

On Thursday, the school board voted to reject the arbitrators' suggested contract as the union approved it.

The union then notified the board of its intention to walk.

Sherpinsky said that if the board agreed to the arbitrators' pact, property taxes in the district would have to rise by 25 percent.

"The board finds that unmanageable," he said.

Starting pay for North Penn teachers is $42,870; a teacher with a master's degree, 30 additional college credits, and 16 years in the district is paid $92,550.

The district includes the boroughs of Hatfield, Lansdale, and North Wales, the townships of Hatfield, Montgomery, Towamencin, and Upper Gwynedd, and the village of Line Lexington.