Photo by Geoff Patton

By Tony Di Domizio, staff Writer

FRANCONIA — In 15 minutes, and with no public comment in a packed-full room Tuesday evening, the Souderton Area School Board rejected the fact finding recommendations for both the secretaries’ and teacher’s aides unions.

Instead, the board voted unanimously to authorize a tentative agreement approving the fact finding report for the Souderton Area Secretaries’ Association, with exceptions.

The board also voted 8-1 to authorize a tentative agreement approving the fact finding report for the Souderton Area Educational Support Personnel Association, with exceptions.

Board member R. Bud Miller abstained from the vote due to his wife’s role as a part-time teacher’s aide.

Solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik was absent from the meeting.

There were no copies of the fact finding report available to the public, and the members of the secretaries’ union did not receive copies of the report until two hours prior to the meeting.

Donna Mountney, head of the secretaries’ union, said the majority of the 48 members of the union voted to approve the fact finder report prior to the public meeting.

“The membership voted tonight and the membership got it (the report) today,” she said. “We are pret

ty much at an agreement.”

Mountney would not confirm that the agreement is a two-year contract. She said the union has “pretty much agreed upon” the language in the report.

“All in all, we have reached an agreement,” she said.

It is unknown if the teacher’s aides union voted on the agreement.

Under state law, both parties have until April 9 to inform the school board of its acceptance or rejection of the report.

The board met in an executive session for 15 minutes prior to the 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday to discuss the report. The board also met in an executive session to discuss the report for 70 minutes on April 1.

Dr. Charles Amuso, superintendent for the district, said Tuesday night that the board received a fact finding report for each union on March 30 from a fact finder who heard a discussion about the two negotiating processes.

Under state law, the board and the unions have until April 9 to accept or reject the report.

The board and administration reviewed the report and the administration recommended the board reject the fact finding recommendation for the secretaries’ association, and authorize a tentative agreement approving the fact finding report with the following exception: “Class II and IV non-grandfathered employees and Class IV — ‘me, too’ provision tied to the Souderton Educational Support Personnel Association Contract.”

Another exception struck “more than” from the fact finder recommendation: “In addition, those ten-month bargaining unit employees who work more than seven or more hours per day shall be entitled to participate in the lowest cost teachers’ health care plan for single employee benefits provided that they contribute 10 percent of the health care premium effective July 1, 2009.”

The board recommended to reject the fact finding recommendation for the Souderton Educational Support Personnel Association and authorize a tentative agreement approving the fact finding report with the following exception, which struck “more than” from the language: “Those Bargaining Unit Employees who work more than seven or more hours per day and at least 170 days per school year shall be entitled to participate in the lowest cost teachers’ health care plan for single employee benefits provided that the employees contribute 10 percent of health care premium effective July 1, 2009.”

Both tentative agreements are in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement draft that will be subject to final wording adjustments as recommended by the administration and solicitor.

Amuso said the fact finder’s recommendation was rejected because it cannot be changed if something isn’t agreed upon.

“The fact finding report is what it is,” he said. “It can’t be changed. You can’t partially accept a report.”

He said in this case, the board rejected the report and authorized an agreement with the union.

“We will try to reach a settlement as a result,” Amuso said.

Board president Bernard Currie was mum on the report and the decision of the board. At the beginning of the meeting, Currie referred to the Tuesday night special meeting as a “special occasion.”

“The board voted to authorize a tentative agreement, and I can’t discuss it because the other parties have not voted. Give us 24 to 48 hours.”

The unions still had to officially notify the school board of their votes.

Currie said health care was reflected in the report, and that some union members had the same health care benefits as others and some did not.

“Health care was in the report and it is stated differently, and is not exactly what we really want to happen,” he said. “I’m really not at liberty to discuss details. It’s not fair to the other parties who will read it in the newspaper or hear it on the radio and then go to a meeting.”