ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. — The Ellwood Area Education Association announced their intent to strike if an agreement isn’t soon reached with the Ellwood City Area School District.
With negotiations underway since January, both sides met again Thursday night with the hopes of reaching an agreement before the teachers’ designated strike date: next Tuesday.
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Teachers and district leaders alike are optimistic it won’t come to that.
“We have another session scheduled for tonight (Thursday), and hopefully we'll work something out to avoid a strike here in the district,” School Board President Michael Neupauer said.
The hang-ups for a new contract reportedly include salary, benefits and early retirement.
Teachers are currently working under a deal that expired in June.
“At times, we're on the same page. Other times, things changed slightly,” teacher Dave Braymer said.
School officials called negotiations "personal."
Neighbors and friends sit on both sides.
The last time talk of a strike loomed in the district a 12th-hour agreement was reached, Channel 11’s Joe Holden reported. There's hope that history will repeat itself.
“We have a distressed community, but we have to do what's best for our students and also treat our employees fairly,” Neupauer said.
Both sides are looking to settle on a deal that would be in place for five years.