school board makes a contract with teachers then takes it back

Last Friday the Blackhawk School Board in Chippewa Township in southwestern Pa. the board voted to take away a contract that was already aproved. This contract broke a 4 year agreement with the Blackhawk education association and now the Blackhawk School Boatrd  had to face the public with a meeting open to the public.

The meeting wasn't supposed to start until 7:30pm but the meetig room, which was the school lbrary, People were gathering at the library at least an hour before he start of the meeting. Some of the people who showed up early were all wearing some kind of green clothing to support their teachers and handed out stickers that said "We heart out teachers and the group of people showing up inclded students, parents and community memebers and teachers.

The School board wanted to show a 27 slides slide show that was called "Contract analysis" and itwas going to be presented by acting supertintendant Mike Thomas first, but an audience member pointed out school board policy of public comment first

School Board President Lance Rose stopped the financial report and then said "It certainly wasn't intentional. I beg the audiences forgiveness."

Blkackhawk Educatuion Association  leader who is also a teacher at the high school named Jarrod MCowin said,"WE agreed on a 2 perecent cost of living  raise. There are only two ways  to describe in raises  2 percent or 4.24 percent."

If a teacher was newer they got a 2 percent raise and if they were there for a long time then they got 4.24 percent raise.

At the meeting  was Kelly Compeau  of the Pennsylvania LLabor relations board and told the audience  that the Blackhawk education association which has 173 members went to the Pennsylvania relations board and filed a charge.
Compeau said, "by definintion what makes a contract a contract is that's it's legally enforceable . In Response to the board's illegal actions the teachers filed a charge of unfair lavbor peactices  with the Pennsylvania Labor Raelations voard today. There were so many people who wanted to speak at the meeting that the line to get into to speak reached the entrance doors to the library.

THe School Board answered no questions because of the fact there may be litigation invilved.