Contract expires today for Charleroi teachers

Classes, which began earlier this week in the Charleroi Area School District, are expected to continue even though the teachers' contract was due to expire at the end of today.

Both sides met Thursday night for several hours and are planning future talks, according to Superintendent Dr. Brad Ferko.

Ferko said progress is being made and both sides are bargaining in good faith.

"There's always movement," Ferko said. "There's a lot of discussion going on. There's not a great deal of movement, but we're talking and that's good. I think both sides are committed to getting this done.

"It's a process that's going to take time."

The superintendent said salaries and health care benefits are the two main issues.

"There is no animosity; everybody's talking," Ferko said.

Ferko said the teachers are continuing to work under the current deal as talks continue.

The administration has received no notification formally or informally that the Charleroi Area Education Association plans to consider a work stoppage.

"I commend the teachers' union as well as the board," Ferko said. "There have been very good discussions about a new contract."

The Charleroi Area Education Association represents roughly 130 employees of the district. The current three-year contract was reached in October 2006 and was retroactive to August 2006, when the previous pact had expired.

At that time, the teachers continued to work under the old pact while a new contract was negotiated.

Natalie Komacek, president of the Charleroi Education Association, did not respond to numerous telephone and e-mail messages left for her since Wednesday.