HERMITAGE STRIKE Graduation date reset

There could be time for a second work stoppage if nonbinding arbitration fails.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- June 14 is the new graduation date for the 170 seniors at Hickory High School -- provided that the district's teachers don't go on strike again before then.
That's also scheduled as the last day of school for all pupils.
June 5 was to be the last day of classes and graduation under the original school calendar.
Depending on results: Whether the new date holds depends on the results of nonbinding arbitration between the school district and its teachers as they try to work out the terms of a new contract that would be retroactive to July 1.
The 165-member Hermitage Education Association walked off the job March 21 but was ordered to return to work Monday by the state to ensure that Hermitage can complete 180 days of classroom instruction by June 15, as stipulated by Act 88, the state law governing teacher negotiations.
That left the teachers with a seven-day strike. It also triggers the mandatory nonbinding arbitration process.
That process, which begins on the day the teachers return to work, allows a total of 50 calendar days for the two sides to pick a panel of three arbitrators, have a public comment period and arbitration hearings and vote on the panel's recommendation for a settlement.
It could happen faster than that, or it could take longer. There's no penalty for violating the timeline, said Patricia Crawford, secretary to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, which oversees the arbitration.
If the two sides accept the recommended settlement, there's no problem. If either side rejects it, the teachers could go on strike again.
Time for second strike: If the two sides adhere to the time line, the 50th day would be up about May 20, giving the teachers time to stage a second strike before school ends for the year.
May 20 would be the 162nd day of classes for Hermitage.
But Act 88 would intervene again, this time guaranteeing that the district would have time to complete 180 days of education by June 30.
That means the second strike could last as long as 10 days and still allow that deadline to be met.
Teachers haven't indicated they are contemplating a second work stoppage.
They said they didn't want to strike the first time but felt it was the only way to force the school board into the next step in the Act 88 negotiations process -- nonbinding arbitration.
Monday was to be a holiday for pupils, but they will have to be back in school as classes resume.
They will still get Memorial Day off May 27. The state won't allow the holiday to be used as a strike makeup day.