Bellefonte teachers union members to vote today on possible strike after year of negotiations

BELLEFONTE -- The Bellefonte Area Education Association will vote today on whether to authorize the union to schedule a strike after representatives said its spent twelve months of bargaining that has been stalled by Bellefonte Area School District negotiators.

A release from the association said negotiations first began in September of 2025.

Members also cited Bellefonte's sharp decline in competitiveness in staff compensation, the release said.

The association contends that Bellefonte has among the lowest professional staff compensation in Centre County, ranking behind Penns Valley, Bald Eagle Area and State College.

"Our members have sacrificed hundreds of hours since the beginning of the 2025-26 school year to reach a fair agreement," said Rachel Griel, a school nurse at BASD and the union representative for Bellefonte Area Middle School's facility. "Unfortunately, district negotiators have resorted to ultimatums and stall tactics. We and the Bellefonte community deserve better."

Griel has been serving on the association's negotiation committee and, in a press release, urged district representatives to discuss the contract further.

"We believe that an agreement is best reached by meaningful, face-to-face discussion between staff and district officials at the bargaining table, not through take-it-or-leave-it offers handed over by an attorney," Griel said.

Their current agreement expired June 30, and professional staff began the year without a contract.

"Our membership is so tired of watching our students get left behind and seeing skilled educators leave Bellefonte because of disrespect and lack of fair pay," said Katherin Momenzadeh, an English teacher at Bellefonte Area High School and member of the association. "This is not an easy choice, but we have to stand up for ourselves and our school community."

The parties next negotiate Sept. 22. Negotiations were scheduled for the duration of the afternoon and evening prior to the district's announcement of a special Board meeting.

Bellefonte Area Education Association represents approximately 230 professional staff at Bellefonte Area School District and is an affiliate of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association represents 177,000 teachers, school employees, aspiring educators, retirees and healthcare workers across Pennsylvania.