Teachers and School District at Odds Over Contract Talks

In a recent turn of events, the Bellwood-Antis School District and the Bellwood-Antis Education Association couldn't see eye to eye on a new teachers' contract. The talks went on for nearly four hours, but no deal was made. The union said the district was late to the game and dropped a verbal offer that didn't even consider their previous proposal. They also claimed the district walked away from the table after 3. 5 hours and didn't want to set up more meetings. The union is now planning to hold a strike vote. But the district says the union's claims aren't true. They say they put forward a solid proposal covering health care, retirement, and salaries. The district even sweetened their salary offer and agreed to add more steps to the salary schedule, which the union had asked for. The union, though, said they wouldn't accept the offer unless the district met some new demands about how teachers are placed on the salary schedule. These demands are part of a labor practice complaint the district has filed, with a hearing set for December. The district says two of the union's financial demands are just too expensive. They asked the union to join them in asking for a fact-finder to help resolve the issues, but the union didn't immediately respond. So, the district went ahead and asked for the fact-finder on their own. The district points out that they've already raised taxes as much as the state allows to cover salary and benefit costs. They say they have to borrow money just to meet payroll, which is why they think a fact-finder is a good idea. Meanwhile, the union is moving forward with their strike vote, set for the end of October.