Residents, teachers press Haverford Township board to resolve expired teacher contract

Haverford Township — Dozens of residents, current and former teachers urged the School District of Haverford Township Board of School Directors on Sept. 18 to settle an expired collective bargaining agreement, saying stagnant pay and limited professional time threaten teacher retention and the district’s academic reputation.

The public comment period drew long lines of speakers representing parents, retirees, current teachers and Haverford Township Education Association leadership. Adam Nancarrow, president of HTEA, told the board: "Our request is simple. Prioritize investment in our educators from our veterans to our future hires." Several commenters said the contract lapsed in August and that negotiations have continued without a settlement.

The issue matters to parents and district leaders because speakers linked teacher pay and prep time directly to student outcomes and district competitiveness. Ryan Shantz, who said he reviewed 2024–25 salary schedules across nine peer districts, said, "Across most of their career, Haverford teachers are paid less than their peers in competing districts." Retired teacher Tom Capista told the board, "The single most important factor is a teacher in the front of that classroom."

Superintendent Dr. Hayes acknowledged ongoing negotiations in his superintendent’s report, saying both sides "are continuing to engage in conversations and negotiations in order to work towards a fair and competitive comprehensive contract." The board president also told the audience the board "remains committed to continuing good faith, respectful negotiations."

Speakers described specific financial strains and tradeoffs. English teacher Sarah Crispin said she has taken a second job and, at times, sold plasma to make ends meet, adding, "Without a cost of living adjustment, dedicated educators like myself fall further and further behind." Parents and community members provided examples of teachers volunteering large amounts of unpaid time to support students, running after-school programs, attending weekend events and providing individualized interventions.

Not all public remarks were uniform. Board member Danielle Vitale raised concerns about district spending priorities, calling for fiscal restraint and asking the board to ensure money is directed to items that “directly benefit our students now.” Another speaker, John Delease, urged transparency in the numbers behind salary proposals and asked the board to publish bargaining-unit data so the public can verify claims about average salary increases.

Several speakers framed the negotiations as a community priority tied to property values and long-term district quality. Commenters who identified as former administrators and principals described the effort to recruit and vet teachers and urged competitive compensation to retain institutional knowledge.

The meeting did not include a board vote on the contract. Board members repeatedly invited continued negotiation; the board’s next public work session is scheduled for Oct. 9 in the Oakmont administration building boardroom. The superintendent and HTEA said they are continuing talks but did not announce a timetable for a settlement.

The public comment session extended for the bulk of the meeting, reflecting high engagement and signaling that the contract dispute will remain a prominent municipal issue until the board and HTEA reach an agreement.