SHALER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Students in one of the area’s largest school districts headed back to class Friday for the first time this year after a teacher’s strike ended Wednesday.
"I'm kinda excited because I have nothing to do at home," said Shaler Area 7th grader Cassie Kagle.
Even though things will be normal inside of Shaler Area School District classrooms, a big issue still remains on the bargaining table -- salary.
A five-year contract was approved earlier this week and the deal affects more than 400 teachers. They had been on strike for eight days after working for more than two years without a contract.
The Shaler Area Education Association and the Shaler Area school board were able to reach an agreement on health care benefits but were unable to strike a deal on salaries. That issue is now headed to binding arbitration.
Students, parents and teachers alike were all glad to be back in the classroom. Retired teacher Dr. John McDonough said he knows what it’s like to be one of the striking teachers.
“I think it's a last resort, a very last resort that teachers go on strike,” McDonough said.
A representative from the school district said everything went smoothly Friday morning.
It’s still not clear how the strike will affect the school calendar. Students must get 180 days of education in by June 15, 2014.
WPXI
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