Teachers silently protest working without a contract

Over 100 district teachers showed their solidarity

By:David Koch
   FLORENCE — More than 100 district teachers were in attendance at Monday’s Board of Education agenda meeting to silently show their discontent about working without a contract.
   Susan Bassett, president of the Florence Township Education Association, said teachers at the school board’s meeting were there to demonstrate unity among Florence teachers.
   "They all came together, and they all left together," said Gerard Steffe, superintendent for the Florence School District. "They all left at the beginning of the meeting."
   Public comment is allowed only on listed items during the school board’s agenda meeting held on the second Monday of every month. The teachers’ contract was not listed on this meeting’s agenda.
   "We were aware of the fact that you could not speak at agenda meetings," said Ms. Bassett.
   Currently, the 143 teachers and the support staff in the Florence Township School District have been without a contract since June 30 of this year.
   Negotiations began 18 months ago. Mr. Steffe said he hopes to have a teachers’ contract finished by the end of September.
   "The (negotiation) meetings have been very amicable, very friendly and cooperative," said Mr. Steffe."
   Mr. Steffe said negotiations are now concentrating on salaries.
   "When you talk about salaries, it’s how much of an increase the board is willing and able to offer," he said.
   Ms. Bassett would not comment on whether district teachers would go on strike.