Catholic HS Students Report For School, Teachers Return To Picket Line
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The strike continues for lay teachers at the 17 high schools operated by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Both sides are expected back at the negotiating table today at 1 p.m. But some students still have to go to school.
It varies from school to school, but different grades are being told to report.
For example, today at Father Judge, sophomores, juniors and seniors are all off, but freshmen are to be in at 7:35 a.m., with a dismissal at 12:15 p.m.
It's also freshmen only at Bishop Carroll, but they're in for a full day, including the freshman retreat.
Schools' websites list who has classes and when. In a letter to parents, the Archdiocese says freshmen and sophomores will take tests that were scheduled for later this month.
Parents dropping off their kids this morning at Archbishop Ryan High School, say they hope the strike ends as soon as possible.
One frustrated parents says, "I just want it to be done with, I don't know enough about what they're fighting over to know, but they've had plenty of time to get this done."
"I'm not happy the teachers aren't in there, I'm sure the kids would rather them be in there also, but I hope the teachers get what they want," another parent says. "They deserve it."
Lay teachers at the high schools voted to go on strike last Tuesday, at odds over job security and working conditions. The Archdiocese says they need more flexibility over teachers' assignments and schedules.
Both sides do say they want to end the strike as quickly as possible.
Reported by Jim Melwert, KYW Newsradio 1060
