SHAMOKIN – Teachers in the Shamokin Area School District are making a last-ditch effort to avoid a strike. In a statement released Friday, teachers implored the school board to accept the recommendation of the state appointed fact-finder. Mary Yohe, president of the SAEA said, the fact-finder “ruled in favor of the school board with health insurance and tuition reimbursement – and he awarded the school board the first two years of its salary proposal.”
The school board unanimously rejected the fact-finder’s recommendation. Mark McDade, PSEA representative says, “The teachers unanimously voted to accept the fact-finder’s report knowing full well that they got the short end of the stick.” McDade says the school board should return to the bargaining table Monday and prevent the strike.
School board negotiator Antonio Michetti has called the fact-finders report “flawed.” Shamokin teachers are set to strike Tuesday, September 8, the first day of the 2015 school year. (Jennifer Wakeman)