By: David Hare

In June, both the Souderton Area School Board and the Souderton Area Education Association vowed not to argue in the press while they negotiate contracts to avert a teachers' strike.

Not much has changed.

William Lukridge, strike leader and SAEA president, acknowledged the two parties are still in negotiations, but he remained vague on their progress. As head of the union Lukridge speaks for the district's more than 500 teachers.

"We're still bargaining over the main issues," he said Wednesday.

The main issues or demands of the teachers include better pay, better health care and improved working conditions.

"Progress has been made in some areas. We could use some progress in other areas," Lukridge said.

Superintendent Charles Amuso and school board president Bernard Currie could not

be reached for comment.

At a school board meeting in June, Currie, reading from a prepared statement, said the board's objective was to develop contracts "which reflect our accountability to the teachers, students and especially the community of taxpayers who pay for the salaries and benefits."

On Wednesday, Lukridge said both parties remain hopeful a contract agreement can be reached by the start of the school year next month.

"Based on the agreement I have with the school district, that's all I can say right now," Lukridge said.