Wissahickon Superintendent Letter on WEA Negotiations

Editor's note: This letter to parents was sent to Wissahickon School District families via the District's e-mail messenger on Thursday afternoon from Superintendent Judith Clark.

Dear Parents:

Over the past several months, negotiations between the Wissahickon School District and the Wissahickon Education Alliance - Support (WEA-Support) have been ongoing. The WEA-Support union is compromised of the District's Secretaries, Classroom Aides, Bus Drivers, Custodians, Maintenance Personnel, Lunch Assistants, Technology Assitance, Grounds Personnel, Security Personnel, and Nursing Assistants. While I remain optimistic that an agreement may be reached in the near future, it is possible that a work stoppage could occur at some point during the 2012/13 school year. While the issues may still be resolved through negotiations, I want to provide as much notice as possible of this potential situation and the possible impact it could have on your children.

My goal, and the goal of the Wissahickon School Board Directors, is to continue the education of our students even if a strike occurs. We will provide the services required in ensure the health, safety and welfare of all students. District administrators and other non-bargaining unit personnel will be deployed to assist in providing services to students. Additionally, parent and community  volunteers are vital to this plan. Should you be willing to assist in the operation of out schools in the event of a work stoppage, please contact the district personnel office at 215-619-8000 ext. 3020 or email the district personnel office at crossi@wsdweb.org. Alternatively, you may e-mail any one of our building principals in the school in which you are willing to provide services. A list of our building principals listed by building and their respective e-mail addresses follow:

Lyn Fields

lfields@wsdweb.org

Kevin McAneny

In the event of a strike, the following actions will be taken:

• No bus transportation will be provided. This includes public, non-public school, and vocational-technical school transportation both within and outside the District.
• School buildings will remain open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parents of students who normally qualify for bus service may drop students off on the way to work and pick them on on the way home. Administrators and other adults will provide supervision during these extended hours. Additional information will be provided by building principals.
• No after school activity buses will be provided. Adult supervisions of students will be available until 6 p.m.
• As a last resort, students who normally ride the bus to school will be excused from school if parents can demonstrate they cannot provide alternate transportation.
• Twenty-four hours security will be provided on all school district properties.
• A 24-hours information hotline will be in operation during a strike. The telephone number is 215-619-8055. The information hotline will also provide updates on activities and issues related to the strike. In addition to the hotline, all building telephones will be in operation between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. In addition, this information will be available on the District website at www.wsdweb.org.
• District administrators will be made available in each school to provide support for special education students. Specific questions regarding special education support services should be directed to Dr. M. Christopher Marchese, Assistant Superintendent at 215-619-8000 ext. 3010 or e-mail at cmarchese@wsdweb.org.

The law requires the union to provide 48-hours written notice of a strike. Should this occur, I will promptly notify all parents and staff via School Messenger, District Web Site, radio, the School District Television Channel, and through the District's hotline.

It is extremely important that the District receives the full cooperation of every parent for this plan to work. At some point, the issues that have given rise to this situation will be resolved; however, my primary concern is not with this disagreement between adults, but rather with the provision of a safe and productive school environment for our students without any interruption. Our inability to do this will necessitate the cancellation of classes and the rescheduling of school days at other available times, specifically during spring break. A work stoppage would also likely disrupt other school vacations.

Please work with us to help us resolve any other problems that may arise id a work stoppage occurs. Our WEA-Support employees are good people and are essential to the long-term operation of out District. Eventually, a contract settlement will be reached and services will be returned to the level to which you are accustomed. With your support and cooperation, we can continue the education of our students without interruption while the bargaining issues are being resolved.

Please be advised that this letter is ONLY AN ADVANCED NOTICE of what could possibly occur in the event of a strike. I will keep you updates on all future developments. I remain hopeful that the Union will  realize that this dispute can best be resolved through face-to-face negotiations instead of withholding services that will hurt students. I will keep you updates on all future developments.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Judith M. Clark

Superintendent of Schools