NFT: ‘Honest’ Presentation Of Budget Impact Will Show Compromise is Possible

Leaders of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers said Tuesday that they hope that the Neshaminy School Board members will take advantage of the opportunity they have at to show the community that compromise is still possible in the contract talks between teachers and the school district.

At the last school board meeting, school board President Ritchie Webb said that the board hoped to show the public the "true cost" of the latest NFT contract proposal with a presentation.

“We hope the board will be honest with the community about the numbers and about what’s at stake in our effort to reach an agreement,” NFT President Louise Boyd said in the release.

“It is only in the last two months that the board has provided financial and personnel information that will make accurate calculations possible.”

Any budget calculations, Boyd said, must acknowledge the massive concessions teachers have offered on salary, healthcare and retirement benefits. The numbers, she continued, also should take into account that a significant portion of the financial impact of a new agreement arises from unrecognized costs that have accumulated over the four school years that teachers have worked without a new contract.

"It’s kind of interesting what one thinks is a concession. In my mind, concession means the cost goes down," Webb said  when she stated that the union has made "compromises on numerous issues."

Tonight’s presentation, Boyd said in the release, will be “a chance to turn away from divisive rhetoric that serves no one—least of all the children in Neshaminy Public Schools.”

Board member William O'Connor confirmed that the school board will address the cost of the NFT's latest proposal in addition to reminding the public where the cost of the current contract has gotten the school district financially. O'Connor also said that the board will discuss how "dangerous" negotiating to a middle ground could be for the district.

According to the release, many Neshaminy teachers will attend the board meeting tonight, several of which plan to speak during the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting.