Schools

Moon District, Teachers Head to Arbitration

Non-binding hearing set for Dec. 20

The Moon Area Education Association and school district officials have halted negotiations since teachers voluntarily returned to the classroom on Nov. 24 after a 13-day strike. 

But the two parties have agreed to take part in a non-binding arbitration hearing on Dec. 20, to be held at the . Moon teachers are working under terms of a contract that expired in June.  

"Working without a contract makes you a little uneasy," said Butch Santicola, spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. "Sure, there's frustration, but our teachers understand the process."

Find out what's happening in Robinson-Moonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

During the hearing, an arbitrator will hear testimony and proposals from union and district officials.  The arbitrator's recommendation is not binding on either side.  More negotiations or another strike are possible. 

Pennsylvania law mandates that students complete 180 days of classes before June 30, placing a limit on how long teachers can strike. As a result of the strike, the district has extended the school year to June 10.

Find out what's happening in Robinson-Moonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"To get [teachers] back to school early, we agreed to submit to this arbitration," school district solicitor Jack Cambest said. "The district would hope that [another strike] is a remote possibility." 

The district and union agreed to participate in arbitration in an effort to end the contract impasse, Cambest said. 

Cambest said the district initially hoped to take part in a non-binding fact-finding hearing instead.  The two sides eventually agreed to skip that step and go straight to arbitration, he said.

The union has the option of striking again if an agreement is not reached, but Santicola said the teachers are focused on next week's arbitration hearing.

"We're not getting ready for another strike," Santicola said. "Our concentration, 24/7, is on the 20th."

Both Santicola and Cambest declined to discuss in detail the issues being covered in negotiations, although Santicola said the length of the teachers' workday is one point of contention. 


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