Teachers in the New Kensington-Arnold School District authorized a strike if a new contract isn’t reached in the near future.

The New Kensington-Arnold Education Association represents 151 teachers and professional staff who have been working without a contract for nearly eight months.

Ashley Pujol, union president, did not provide an exact date that teachers might walk out.

“At this time, (the education association) will continue negotiations with the board in order to reach a fair and equitable contract settlement,” Pujol said.

Superintendent Christopher Sefcheck was not immediately available for comment.

The two sides are scheduled to meet March 24.

Prior to that, the union will have a town hall meeting to answer questions from residents. It will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the New Ken Social, 1101 Fifth Ave.

Pujol said teachers have kept the district running over the course of the pandemic, despite their contract expiring Aug. 31.

“They have bent over backward to accommodate ever-changing circumstances and have striven to maintain excellent learning conditions,” Pujol said.

The contract sticking point appears to be health care contributions.

At a school board meeting March 1, School Director Terry Schrock said the board wants to offer teachers a fair salary and competitive benefits while minimizing the impact on taxpayers.

Schrock is the district’s lead negotiator and spokesman. He said the board is asking for teachers to make health care contributions that are more in line with what those in other districts are paying.

At $65 per month for single coverage and $125 for a family, what New Kensington-Arnold teachers pay is the second lowest among Westmoreland County districts, he said.

Schrock said the district’s proposal would increase the contribution in the first year of a five-year contract to $125 for single coverage and $250 for family.

Schrock said the district tentatively agreed to the association’s salary proposal, which includes yearly raises averaging 3.78%, and has shown its willingness to increase the property tax rate to pay for it.

Pujol, at that time, accused the board of providing incorrect information.

She said the contract demands are reasonable and comparable to other districts in the county. She said the union hoped to avoid voting to authorize a strike but teachers are “exhausted and demoralized.”

“No one wants a strike. And, although we believe we are very close to reaching a settlement, the board has refused to provide any counterproposals to the one key item remaining, health care.”

Pujol said the union is willing to continue negotiations with the board, but also is ready to take steps to bring the contract settlement to an end.

“Our members deserve to be treated with respect,” Pujol said.

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