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Tensions flare at Hollidaysburg Area School Board meeting

Hollidaysburg teachers working without contract

By Rachel Foor-Musselman 4 min read

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Supporters of district teachers and the teachers union filled the district's high school library Wednesday evening for a school board meeting that turned fiery following a public comment section that largely focused on the district's ongoing contract negotiation.

Hollidaysburg Area Education Association President Mike Rawlins was the first to address the board regarding the contract, saying while "we certainly still have a lot of work to do," "progress has been made."

"Our educators, many of you are present tonight, are currently working under an expired contract," Rawlins said. "We will be working without a contract one month as of next Tuesday, which is the longest I have ever gone in this district."

Robert Burkey, a fifth grade teacher at C.W. Longer Elementary who has been with the district for about 30 years, told the board one of their "major barriers" moving forward was the district's expectation "that we make healthcare concessions to help fund our own raises."

He said the association has stood before them for years advocating for increasing taxes, but "countless board members voted to hold the line" because they "ran on a fiscal responsibility platform."

"Somewhere along the way, the perception became that fiscal responsibility simply meant not raising taxes," Burkey said. "Fiscal responsibility means managing your money wisely while keeping the concept of stewardship in mind."

Burkey detailed the financial relief the district received through the sale of two buildings and COVID-19 funds while the association took a district-wide pay freeze "to help."

"This help came in the form of a promise that the district will remember us when the time came, but it was never realized," Burkey said to a standing ovation.

State Rep. Scott Barger, R-Blair/Huntingdon, also addressed the board to "give some broader context coming from Harrisburg."

"It looks to me like we'll be raising taxes in the state of Pennsylvania within the next couple of years," Barger said.

Following public comment, board President Carmen Bilek read a prepared statement addressing the ongoing negotiations.

"Recent public claims suggesting that the board has been either disrespectful, unwilling to meet and is intentionally delaying negotiations are inconsistent with documented facts of this process," Bilek said.

She said there have been 11 negotiation sessions with both teams present.

"I will mention, although we always try to get along and negotiate fairly" that on May 21, the association walked out after the meeting began "and did not come back to start talking again," Bilek said.

Bilek said the board has presented the association with four offers to settle negotiations, including two in August.

Under the 2022-26 contract, the average annual wage increase was 3.2%. The association initially requested a 5.8% increase for the new contract. Bilek said that request would cost the district $882,000 a year.

The board offered the association a wage increase higher than 3.2%, which was rejected, Bilek said. She detailed other expenses the board had to consider, including health insurance costs.

"We appreciate all the teachers, but the board must look at everything," Bilek said. "In conclusion, the board has met consistently and in good faith, and we will continue to do that."

Once Bilek finished reading the statement, Rawlins retook the podium to address the board despite members attempting to move on with the meeting. Rawlins called the statement a "spin."

Rawlins asked the crowd if he had ever told anyone that the board was disrespectful or posted anything negative on social media, to which they responded "no."

"You have just accused our leadership of doing awful things with no evidence whatsoever that it happened," Rawlins said to applause.

Bilek then announced a brief recess while the crowd filed out of the library when a district parent, who did not provide her name, addressed the board.

In a raised voice, she told the board "these teachers were there for my three little kids" after her husband died nine years ago.

"You just sit there and roll your eyes however you want," the parent said. "My children have dealt with depression and anxiety and these teachers were their mentors. They're the reason why I still have three healthy, wonderful children."

Following the meeting, Bilek said she had no further statement regarding the public comments or contract negotiations.

For further coverage of Wednesday's meeting, see Friday's Mirror.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.

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