Mediator to help in ‘impasse’ between Pike Township school leaders, teachers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Pike Township school district on Wednesday canceled classes due to “a number of staff absences,” according to the district.

The cancellation came as Chris Ludy, president of the Pike Classroom Teachers Association, says the teachers’ group and the district on the northwest side of Marion County have reached an “impasse” in their negotiations for higher pay.

“When the administration doesn’t move their offer in over a month, I mean, we’re now moving on six weeks,” Ludy said. “I am aware of at least four resignations in the last week of teachers that have just because of this toxic environment.”

Ludy says a mediator is being brought in to help with negotiations.

The district is offering a 4.6% raise in teacher salary; however, teachers want a raise closer to 7%, which is lower than what some surrounding districts are getting.

“My wife’s a teacher with the same amount of years of experience. She gets paid 18% more than I get paid in a different district,” said Brad Leatherman, a teacher of adapted physical education with Pike Township.

Leatherman has 12 years on his resume and says he makes only $41 per paycheck more than teachers who are in their first year.

Leatherman said about the teacher resignations at Pike Township, “It’s like a sinking ship; the hole is getting bigger and bigger.”

In a statement to I-Team 8, a spokesperson for the district wrote, “We are still in negotiations with our teacher association and therefore it would not be appropriate to discuss the matter beyond the comments we have already provided at this time.”

Ludy says the teachers’ association has not reached a point yet where it is ready to give up on making a deal.