One week into a teachers strike in the Palmerton Area School District, both sides appear to be standing their ground.

District negotiator John Audi, a Pittston-based lawyer, said Monday that the school board wouldn’t be returning to the negotiating table unless teachers agree to make the sessions public.“Their other options are to stop the strike and go to fact-finding or to enter into non-binding arbitration,” Audi said of the Palmerton Area Education Association.On the picket line last week, PAEA President Tom Smelas said the union was willing to return to the table at any time.Earlier in negotiations, however, he said the association had no interest in bargaining in public.Audi said the district would like to take a final $12,000 jump step for teachers who have reached their maximum amount of steps in the salary matrix and spread that money more evenly among teachers, no matter their years of experience.“We are proposing a $50,000 starting salary for teachers and a 3.25 percent increase for every teacher in the union,” Audi said. “We can’t get there though with that $12,000 jump step in the contract, because it eats up too much money.”Audi said the $50,000 starting offer was made to “help the district get the best of the best teachers available in the marketplace.”The PAEA contends its proposal would save taxpayers $5,000 over what the district is offering.Under the district’s proposal, a seven-year Palmerton teacher would make the same as a new teacher, according to the association.“Teachers who already receive the highest salaries unanimously said no to 3.25 percent raises and are requesting less because they are not willing to sacrifice their less senior colleagues for personal gain,” the association said.Solicitor questionedAudi has been the target of criticism on social media for his dealings in Palmerton and other districts he has represented.Dating back to the start of 2015-16, 13 Pennsylvania districts have had teacher strikes and Audi has been lead negotiator for several of the school boards including Montrose, Athens and Old Forge.Athens teachers were off the job for three days in April 2016.“My professional experience with Mr. Audi during contract negotiations was limited,” said William Bresser, who took over as the Athens Area Education Association President in May 2016. “We had a ratified contract in November 2016, however, we had been without a contract for over three years. Mr. Audi did represent the Athens Area School District during the entire span of those negotiations.”Bresser said from his limited time at the table, he can “say with certainty that it is in the best interest of all stakeholders to bargain in good faith and honestly negotiate changes that need to occur for both sides. It is a significant waste of time, money and effort to bargain in a less than progressive manner that does not reach a settlement in a timely manner. Everyone might not wholly like what can be agreed upon, but should be able to acquiesce on what is fair for both sides.”Teri Evans, Montrose Area Education Association President, said since its negotiations started in April 2015, Audi’s services cost the district around $30,000.“His strategy delays settlements and prolongs negotiations,” Evans said. “He offers a questionable amount of savings and never tells the district what his strategy costs the community that has to go through the process and even through a strike.”Montrose teachers were on strike for 10 days starting on March 29, 2016.Audi, meanwhile, said he has a great respect for teachers and is hopeful for a resolution sooner rather than later. He contends that the district is looking for an affordable solution that will put all teachers on a level playing field.“With no change of the matrix, the money continues to be unfairly distributed,” Audi said. “Instead, the association has insisted that the only way to fix the schedule is by adding more money to the matrix to equalize the jump steps elsewhere and to compact the schedule to get all employees to the top salary sooner. This is not an affordable or reasonable solution.”Next stepPalmerton teachers have been on strike since Jan. 9 and, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, can be out of the classroom through Jan. 25.Following the strike, the two sides will likely enter mandatory non-binding arbitration, Audi said.“In this proceeding a panel of three arbitrators is selected to hear evidence and rule on which party’s position is more acceptable according to School Code guidelines, such as affordability, competitiveness with neighboring districts and other similar considerations,” the district said in a statement on its website. “Prior to the hearing public comment is welcome and will be reviewed by the arbitrators.”At the conclusion, each side either accepts or rejects the recommended report. If both sides accept the report, an agreement is reached and the contract is ratified. If either party rejects the report, then there is no agreement and negotiations continue. If the report is rejected, the union has the option of conducting a second strike in which 180 days of education must be completed no later than June 30.The district’s next scheduled board meeting is at 6:30 tonight.