Teachers in the Penn Hills School District lined driveways and intersections to every school in the district during the first day of their strike this morning.

The Penn Hills Education Association, which represents the district's 415 teachers, announced Monday it would strike, citing a deadlock in contract negotiations. Penn Hills teachers have been working without a contract since Aug. 31.

Approximately 200 teachers kicked off protests at 8 a.m., with plans to rotate shifts until 3:30 p.m. And though teachers stayed close to schools for the most part, groups were also seen on the busy thoroughfares of Frankstown Avenue and Universal Road.

Union spokesman Butch Santicola said strikers were being recognized early on.

"There's been positive feedback; so far it's been pretty good. We're just asking the public to take a very careful look at the release and what's being said."

School Board President Joe Bailey released a statement on the district's Web site this morning questioning the teachers' unions motives, claiming it has "misrepresented its membership on several occasions." The letter also questioned why teacher accountability is a sticking point in negotiations and commends the work of "teachers who are aware of the facts and do a phenomenal job every day."

In response, Mr. Santicola said today, "We're not misrepresenting anything."

He said that the board, which had proposed eliminating the evaluation provision in the old contract, last night during contract talks proposed a system in which district officials could pick and choose whomever they want to lay off. He said that would leave open the possibility for district officials to say, "If you're active in the association, we don't want that person back."

He said last night's proposal has helped to solidify the membership.

The parties have been negotiating a new contract since at least December, although Mr. Santicola said preliminary talks began in late 2008. At issue is the rate of teacher pay increases, annual step pay increases and the amount of healthcare contributions paid by teachers.

Under state law, teachers must return in time for students to complete 180 days of instruction by June 15 but will have until June 30 if mandatory non-binding arbitration fails and a second strike occurs. The exact date of the return will be determined by the Department of Education.

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