LMSD-Union Talks: 8 Hours, No Deal

Eight hours of negotiations Tuesday between Lower Merion School District and the Lower Merion Education Association yielded neither a new contract for 1,300 employees nor a schedule to resume talks.

A two-year contract for teachers and other staff expired June 30, though employees are still being compensated under its terms until a new deal is reached.

LMEA president Chris Santa Maria told Patch on Wednesday more negotiations are unlikely to happen before the next scheduled school board meeting Aug. 20.

District officials did not respond to a request for comment. Several times since the spring, a spokesman has declined comment on the active negotiations, citing district policy.

The first employee day of the 2012-2013 school year is Tuesday, Aug. 28, a week before classes begin. A full union meeting is scheduled for that day.

"The association is not going to take any options off the table at this time," Santa Maria said, who characterized himself as "disappointed" in the lack of resolution Tuesday.

Asked whether and when the union might consider going on strike, he replied, "Regardless of whether we're even thinking about any of those options ... it would be very unfortunate for the school year to start off with the staff having this hanging over them, and that's why we're trying hard to remove that."

In September 2010, after a five-year contract expired, the LMEA and the school district reached a settlement. Union members approved it with about 90 percent support, Santa Maria said.