An expired teachers contract once again dominated discussion Tuesday night at Palmerton Area School District’s board of directors meeting.

The Palmerton Area Education Association agreed last week to nonbinding arbitration after striking for two weeks in January.Palmerton’s previous teachers contract expired June 30, 2016.The strike and negotiations have been a hot topic on social media, and many speakers Tuesday urged respect as the process moves forward.“Arguing back and forth is not productive,” said resident Matt George. “I’m not pro teachers or pro school board, I’m pro fair. I want a resolution that is fair for the teachers and the taxpayers. The teachers do an excellent job, and I think they’re worthy of a fair contract. More gets done when everyone is calm and talks sensible.”Board Vice President Tammy Recker agreed, adding, “Bashing back and forth should not be that way.“We should be professionals on both sides,” she added.In a prepared statement, board member Sherry Haas recalled the love of community that prompted her to first run for the volunteer position.“Anyone who knows me knows where my heart lies, and none of that has changed,” Haas said.“I take eight personal days off work each year to tour schools while they’re in session. Those visits helped get outdated science laboratories replaced and we got it done by talking back and forth.”For all the board meeting public comment, the majority in support of teachers, Haas said the board has received numerous emails, letters and personal visits from people too scared to speak out for fear of backlash.“What saddens me is the lack of respect between Blue Bombers,” she said.Resident questions attorneyPalmerton’s labor attorney, John Audi, said Tuesday the district, in its negotiations, has attempted to get rid of a $12,000 jump step in the salary schedule that it feels is unaffordable.Teachers meanwhile are pushing for a traditional salary schedule as opposed to a $50,000 starting salary and flat 3.25 percent for every teacher, which was previously pitched by the district.Resident Ken Sutton Sr. questioned the motives of Audi, who previously worked for the Pennsylvania State Education Association before becoming a labor attorney for school districts.“I left the PSEA for several reasons,” Audi said, “one of which was I believed the union was taking positions contrary to the good of public education.”Audi said he believed the teachers were offered a “very fair contract.”Under previous contracts, he said, unions got increases and divvied up the pay raises as they saw fit, leading some teachers to get one percent raises, while others got 30 percent.“I didn’t make them go on strike and the board didn’t make them go on strike,” Audi said. “I know you want to make me the scapegoat, but I’m not causing the problems. This union came in with a grudge already set forth after the last contract. There was going to be a strike no matter what happened.”Residents have questioned Audi’s salary on numerous occasions over the past few months.Tuesday, Audi said he is making $145 per hour.Without an attorney?Brandon Mazepa, a Palmerton graduate, cited a Times News article stating that Jim Thorpe’s school board and teachers union inked a three-year contract extension after negotiating without lawyers.“I think our district is being scammed,” he said. “We hired a man who has no ties to the community and no vested interest in coming to terms.”It isn’t the first time negotiating without an attorney has come up in Palmerton.Board members Josann Harry said she suggested it, but was in the minority.“That conversation happened, but the majority of the board didn’t feel the same way,” she said.A member of the district’s negotiating team, Sue Debski, said that the board needs the legal advice.“The union is very well educated and well versed in these contracts,” she said. “They live, eat and breathe contracts because it is their livelihood. I’m not qualified enough to understand the language of law involved in contracts. I need advice for that.”New negotiating team memberUp until now, three Palmerton board members have made up its negotiating team, but a fourth is on the way.Recker said Tuesday she would be joining Debski, Barry Scherer and Charles Gildner.While she hasn’t been to any negotiating sessions yet, Recker said she wants to work to eliminate the “us versus them” mentality.“I think we do need to communicate better,” she said. “With different perspectives, I do believe we can get there. There is work to be done on both sides, but I have faith it will happen.”Four seatsFour Palmerton board seats, including those held by Debski, Scherer, Darlene Yeakel and Chuck Myers, will be up for grabs in the 2017 election.Debski said Tuesday she is not running again.Earl Paules, however, said he would be throwing his name in the ring.“I know the board members get beat up, but I don’t mind,” he said. “I want to try and make a difference and try to negotiate the right thing for both sides. We need to get through this quickly. It is costing everyone money.”Debski said she’s excited to see more people getting involved. Video from the meeting:

https://www.facebook.com/tnlehighton/videos/1269210243115771/