Hollidaysburg Area School Board ‘disappointed’ by notice of strike vote

District’s teacher wages ranked sixth of eight Blair school districts last year

The Hollidaysburg Area School Board said Friday it was "disappointed" to receive notice that the teachers' union "feels the need to go to a strike authorization" due to stalled contract negotiations, district Superintendent Curtis Whitesel wrote in a statement.

The Hollidaysburg Area Education Association represents about 230 professional staff in the district and announced Thursday that its members would vote Monday afternoon on whether to authorize the union's negotiation committee to schedule a strike if needed.

District staff have been working without a contract since August.

"The board of directors has worked diligently with the teachers' association toward the goal of a new contract, meeting with the association 11 times and presenting seven separate offers," Whitesel wrote. "We agree that our teachers deserve a fair contract and have proposed what we believe is a competitive and equitable wage package."

The statement addressed the union's concern of the district's starting salary for educators, which it said "trails significantly behind nearby districts," writing that Hollidaysburg ranked sixth last year in teacher wages among Blair County's eight school districts.

"Under the board's proposal, salaries would rise to match or exceed those of all neighboring districts over the next four years," Whitesel wrote. "This represents a substantial financial commitment to improving the compensation and financial well-being of our teachers and achieving the goal of attracting and retaining top talent."

Whitesel wrote that while the district values its teachers and recognizes the "outstanding work they do every day," the board is also responsible for "balancing the needs of employees with the interests of students, families, the broader community and local taxpayers."

"We would not be fulfilling that responsibility by agreeing to a contract that places an unreasonable additional burden on taxpayers without adequately considering the district's long-term financial obligations or opportunities to improve its operations," Whitesel wrote.

He stated that the district "has offered fair and reasonable proposals" and "at no time" presented the union with a "take-it-or-leave-it offer."

Whitesel wrote that the district has been willing to meet with the union since its Sept. 1 meeting, but the union canceled both an Oct. 16 meeting and declined an Oct. 19 meeting.

"We remain hopeful that continued discussions will lead to an amicable resolution," Whitesel wrote. "Our community deserves a settlement that allows everyone to move forward together and return their full attention to the essential work of educating students and making Hollidaysburg an even better place to live, learn and work."

The parties do not currently have any scheduled negotiation dates, according to information provided by the union.