SUNBURY — The war of words has begun in contract negotiations for one local school district. Michael Levin, Shikellamy school district’s lead negotiator released a blistering statement Monday condemning the actions of PSEA representative Mark McDade. Specifically, Levin said McDade called a proposed 8% raise “insulting” and “unreasonable.”
McDade says Levin’s characterization of the situation is inaccurate, “It’s taken out of context, he’s spreading misinformation and what I find very troubling is that he has so far accepted over $20,000 of tax payer money in representing the school district.”
According to McDade, the district’s offer was a ‘take it or leave it’ proposal that included a rejection of all proposals made by the teachers. This is what McDade says is unreasonable, “Do we honestly thing they’re going to say, ‘Yeah, this is great. We should agree with every single demand that you have on the table? That’s just not realistic and it lacks reason.”
Based on the last proposal from the district, the Shikellamy Education Association has selected a strike date of Tuesday, October 13. McDade says this gives both sides ample opportunity to reach an agreement and hopefully will get them beyond the impasse, “Obviously we need a sense of urgency at Shikellamy because business as usual is simply, we meet, we get nowhere and Mike Levin makes money.”
Shikellamy school district has requested a fact-finder from the Bureau of Mediation. (Jennifer Wakeman)