As if there were not enough disruptions during the past two years because of COVID-19 issues, snow days and late starts, one school district is facing another serious interruption to the school year. Pleasant Valley School District teachers say that if a contract is not agreed upon they may go on strike on Feb. 28.

The Pleasant Valley district is one of four in Monroe County and includes students from what is popularly known as the “West End” of the county - Polk, Eldred, Chestnuthill and Ross townships.

With a student population of about 5,000, it is the smallest of the four, just slightly smaller than the Stroudsburg Area School District whose population is slightly more than 5,000. Minority students make up nearly a third of the student population, and about a third are classified as “disadvantaged.”

Negotiations have not resulted in breaking the impasse between the board of education and the district’s education association which represents the teaching staff. Both sides are scheduled to meet on Feb. 25, the results of which could determine more definitely whether there will be a strike.

In an advisory to parents earlier this month, the district suggested that they “plan accordingly” since the prospects appear more likely that a strike is possible. The statement warned that the issues between the two sides are significant “However, at its core, the board desires to enter into a sustainable collective bargaining agreement recognizing the financial issues of the district,” the statement said.

Drew Dymond, president of the PVEA, said that the union is seeking improved working conditions and competitive salaries and benefits. Last November he was quoted as saying, “We don’t feel valued by the current board and want to negotiate a contract that is fair and reasonable.”

The board, on the other hand, is wrestling with a potential $5.8 million deficit as it puts together its 2022-23 budget, which could result in a 4.7% increase in real estate taxes.

The district noted that it is offering salary hikes in three of the four contract years. It also indicates that is absorbing the majority of health care costs but is asking association members to pay more than they are presently for their health care and prescription coverage.

There are other issues, too, which are laid out extremely well in a Times News article written by Kristine Porter and published on Feb. 15.

One traditional way these strikes are avoided is to seek fact-finding that involves a neutral third party hearing both sides then making a recommendation; however, neither side is committed to agree to the decision of the fact-finder.

The teachers have been working without a new contract since June 30. In cases such as these, teachers work as if the old contract was still in place. The committee trying to resolve the impasse consists of three school board members, two of whom were just elected in November and seated in early December, the board’s solicitor and a state mediator.

Some are surprised when teachers either threaten or actually do go on strike, thinking that the work stoppage is illegal. It is in some states, but it is legal in Pennsylvania so long as it does not deprive students of the mandatory 180 school days. If this appears to be the case, the Secretary of Education can seek an injunction. If an injunction is issued and either side violates its provision there could be serious repercussions, including fines and jail time.

Some wonder whether teachers get paid when they are on strike. Their contracts require that they honor the required 180 teaching days. Missed days will be made up between the time of the end of the strike and the end of the school year. In some past cases, the school year has been extended to make sure students have 180 days of instructions. As long as teachers put in the time (180 teaching days), there is no impact on their salaries.

During the strike, however, the district does not pay striking teachers. In many cases, the teachers union will give them a minimal stipend which might help pay for usual expenses such as food, rent or the mortgage.

Both sides want to avoid a strike at all cost, because they all know that a strike now in a district that has been racked by many recent resignations, a certain amount of chaos and a sense that all is not well will make parents even more leery of how well their students are being educated.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.