Contract Headaches In The McKeesport School District

MCKEESPORT, Pa. — (WPXI) – As teachers in the McKeesport Area School District get set to return to the classroom, they could be doing so without a contract. “It’s been the whole summer. Now we’re at the 11th hour where we can voluntarily report tomorrow, at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., to start setting our rooms up and teachers don’t have a contract,” said Gerald McGrew, the president of the teachers union. Wednesday night, the school board voted against ratifying a contract that calls for raises between 3% and 6.5% over the next five years. The board said it cannot afford the raises without a major tax hike and potential teacher furloughs. Several board members blamed the district’s business manager for their need to reconsider. “A contract was negotiated with ineptitude, and we cannot afford it,” said board member Matthew Holtzman. “Our business manager did not negotiate well. We don’t have the money to cover this.” Now, with teachers required to report to school on August 17 — and students on August 21 — the teachers union is weighing its next move. That could mean a strike, a delayed start to the school year, or working without a contract. The teachers union plans to meet Thursday night to decide how to proceed. District leaders say they want to get back to negotiating as soon as possible.