HAVERTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Teachers in the Haverford Township School District have been working without a contract since the beginning of September, and they made their voices heard, along with supportive community members, at a packed school board meeting Thursday night.
There was so much interest in the meeting that the district moved it to a larger venue, the Haverford High School auditorium. Many in attendance were teachers — members of the Haverford Township Education Association (HTEA) — who wore red shirts in solidarity.
Before the start of the public comment period, which was predominantly made up of the teachers and parents who were on their side, school board Vice President Kristin Larsen commented on the negotiations.
“As a board, we are charged with making decisions that balance our many priorities, including labor contracts and educational programming with our financial realities and fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers,” Larsen said. “The board remains committed to continuing good faith, respectful negotiations. Our goal is a fair, responsible contract that strengthens our teachers, our students and our community. We look forward to continued negotiations and to reaching a positive resolution in the near future.”
The teachers have been working without a contract since Sept. 1, and one of the main sticking points has been money. The union is seeking a contract with a cost-of-living adjustment to address inflation that has piled up since the pandemic.
“The reality is belief and passion alone don’t pay the bills,” said teacher Sarah Crispin. “To support my family, I have had to take on a second job teaching at a private school after my hours here are over. And at times over the years, I have even sold plasma to make ends meet.”
The union argues that teacher pay in the district has fallen behind, which puts the district at a competitive disadvantage with other districts, as teachers could look elsewhere for work.
“This challenge is urgent. Our pay significantly lags neighboring districts, limiting our ability to attract and retain talented educators,” said Adam Nancarrow, HTEA president. “A new teacher with a bachelor’s degree, fresh out of college, can start at some nearby districts at the same salary that a Haverford teacher only reaches after six years of teaching.”
“Teachers are the difference between a child who thrives and one who falls behind,” one district father said at the meeting. “If we lose great teachers because our pay lags, it’s the children that pay the price.”
The union is also seeking more professional collaboration time, particularly at the elementary level.
While the union and the school board both said they want to continue contract talks in good faith, there has been some friction as both sides expressed a difference in how they believe the negotiations have played out.
“As we continue to engage in conversations, it is important to provide accurate information, as the HTEA bargaining team has provided misleading information,” the school board posted on its website earlier this week.
“One thing I would never do is use my company’s website and social media channels as an avenue to insinuate that my employees are lying to us,” one parent said at the meeting in response.
It’s not clear when negotiations will take place again. The next board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 9.