Another school year started Wednesday at the South Butler School District but the contract dispute between the school district and its teachers union is carrying on.
The dispute has surpassed three years and last month, the state appointed a fact-finder to help resolve the bargaining issues. The school board has since presented their case to the fact-finder but they are questioning the legitimacy of the process.
District Solicitor Tom Breth said in a negotiations update Tuesday that they believe the teachers’ union “attempted to influence the fact-finder selection process.” The district moved to remove the appointed fact-finder Jane Desimone but the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry denied the district’s appeal without explanation.
The fact-finder is expected to issue a decision on the case by Monday, at which time both the school board and the teachers union will vote to either accept or reject the findings. The next public South Butler School Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 6.
