It’s pretty demoralizing to work without a contract.
At least, that has been the perspective of community member Chris Santa Maria, who served as the president of Lower Merion’s teacher’s union for 11 years and graduated from Nether Providence High School.
He was also one of many community members to criticize the district at three past school board meetings for the handling of contract negotiations with WSEA [Wallingford Swarthmore Educators Association].
Wallingford-Swarthmore teachers have had no contract since June 30, when state law mandates that teachers continue on the salary of the previous contract. Despite inflation slowing, prices are still rising for many goods, and teachers have not received increases in salaries a new contract might bring.
The negotiations have not escaped the scrutiny of the community, with anger over the contract situation looming over a series of board meetings in July and August. At the special meeting on August 22, the board announced a separation agreement with the previous superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille.
Marseille was temporarily replaced by Dr. James Scanlon, who was appointed at the August 22 special school board meeting.
At the August 27 meeting, Mrs. Billie Jo McNamara, the president of WSEA, spoke to the board despite not being a resident of the district, in a gesture School Board President Kevin Henry called an “olive branch.”
In her speech, McNamara emphasized the dedication of teachers to continue to do extra work preparing classrooms and getting ready for the school year despite not having a contract.
“You would never have known that we are still bargaining a contract,” McNamara said.
McNamara also acknowledged that the state of status quo was not pleasant for teachers, and cited a negative impact on morale.
“As their president, I can tell you these teachers have been more than patient with the negotiations process. It is time to settle a fair contract for them,” McNamara said.
According to Santa Maria, the last time WSEA was without a contact at such a point was in 1978, during his junior year. That impasse led to a strike by the union.
Santa Maria recalled being on the football team that year, and forfeiting three games due to the strike.
“I didn’t know who to be angry at. I didn’t know to be angry at the school board. I didn’t know to be angry at anyone else,” Santa Maria said.
In an updated statement to The Panther Press on September 22, McNamara stated that WSEA was fighting not for wages or healthcare benefits, but for students and teachers.
“We strongly believe that teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions,” McNamara stated. “We continue to advocate for classroom size caps, time for teachers to properly prepare for their classes, and guaranteed classroom aide time that will benefit students.”
This point was emphasized at the high school’s back-to-school night on September 5. Wallingford Elementary School teachers were at the school’s entrances, passing out fliers explaining the negotiations.
The fliers listed issues of the contract, claiming that the fifth block had been preserved due to community advocacy, and laid out the issues mentioned in McNamara’s statement. The flyers also called for community members to email Director of Secondary Teaching, Learning, and Innovation Dr. Leslie Pratt and Human Resources Director Mrs. Deena Cellini, who were portrayed as “pushing these harmful changes.”
The teachers also handed out pins reading “We Support WSSD Teachers.” Many lawn signs bearing the same phrase have surfaced around the district as well.
Interim Superintendent Dr. James Scanlon has been involved in contract negotiations with teachers for over 30 years and believes that a settlement is near.
“I think things are going in a positive direction, and they’re working together to get a contract [on] both sides,” Scanlon said.
According to McNamara, the union had an in-person meeting with administrators on September 11.
“Progress was made and we are continuing to work with the district to secure a tentative agreement in the near future,” McNamara stated.
Santa Maria acknowledged the difficulties faced by district officials in negotiating a contract.
“I’m rooting for the board too because it’s an unpaid job,” Santa Maria said. “I don’t envy what they have in place in front of them, but as someone who has deep, deep roots in this district, this is my home.”
For Santa Maria, the impasse holds special significance, even though he never taught in the district.
“I really do care that this gets resolved,” Santa Maria said. “It’s not going to be as bad as it was in ’78, I’m pretty confident of that, but it’s bad enough. Let’s get it done.”
