Saucon Teachers Again Reject State Fact-Finder's Report

Editor's Note: This article has been updated with comments from Saucon Valley Education Association chief negotiator Jim Colbert.

Following protocol, the Saucon Valley Education Association reconsidered a state fact-finder's report about a contract dispute at a meeting Wednesday.

According to a press release from the Saucon Valley School District, the members of the union again voted to reject the report, which was issued late last month and includes recommendations for ending the dispute that has kept many district residents and parents on edge.

SVEA chief negotiator Jim Colbert said in an email that teachers "remain hopeful that the parties will be able to reach a settlement in the near future. To that end, we will be contacting the members of the [school] board’s negotiating team to set a meeting date as soon as possible."

He said that because negotiations are still ongoing, commenting on any specific details related to the process would be inappropriate.

Saucon Valley teachers have been working without a contract since June 30, 2012, and negotiations for a new contract have been ongoing for nearly two years.

The teachers approached the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to request input from a neutral fact-finder and help speed up the process earlier this fall.

After the report was issued in late October, the Saucon Valley School Board voted 7-2 to accept it.

One of the two school board members who voted to reject the report—Eric Adams—explained why he voted as he did in a letter to the editor published by Patch.

The full report—prepared by fact-finder Rochelle K. Kaplan—is posted on the school district's website, along with a three-page overview prepared by the school board.

Saucon teachers last struck in 2009, and also went on strike in 2008 and 2005.