West Chester Teachers Contract Hinges on Harrisburg Pension Reform

It’s looking increasingly like the contract squabble between the West Chester Area School District and its teachers union won’t be resolved until an even thornier debate is settled 80 miles west.

The school board and the West Chester Area Education Association have delayed their next negotiation session and have yet to schedule a new one, according to the Daily Local News. Both sides say that Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to reform pensions for teachers and state workers will have a large influence on the negotiations when they resume.

“If the governor is successful in his effort to modify the existing pension legislation and essentially freeze existing employees under the old system, the district’s cost to fund the Public School Employee Retirement System program could be reduced,” school board president Vince Murphy told the paper.

Union president Debbie Fell acknowledged the two negotiating teams were in “deadlock,” but said Corbett’s pension plan could provide both sides some wiggle room, according to the paper.

“Our only hope is to wait and see whether Governor Corbett’s budget frees up any money and produces revenue that helps us settle this contract,” Fell said to the Daily Local.

The groups have been negotiating for nearly eight months. The last negotiating session was on Feb. 20.

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Previous West Chester Patch Coverage of the Contract Talks

• School Board President Makes Statement
• School Board President Optimistic
• Teacher Contract Still Not Settled
• WCASD Negotiators Explain Fiscal Issues
• School Board Releases Newest Contract Proposal
• School Board Says $6.2 Million Divides Teachers and District
• Teachers Release Proposal Details
• Teachers Disappointed by Lack of Progress
• School Board President Says Both Sides Still Far Apart