DALLAS TWP. — Dallas School District teachers are required to return to their classrooms on Thursday, Oct. 19, according to the state Department of Education.

District Superintendent Thomas Duffy announced the date on Monday.

The district was required to file paperwork with the state Department of Education on the first day of the teachers’ strike, which was Friday, Sept. 22. PDE then calculates how long the strike can last and when teachers are required to return to school.

Under state law, teachers can strike twice in one school year. The first strike must end in time for the district to complete the state-mandated 180 student-instructional days of school by June 15, while a second strike must end in time to complete 180 student-instructional days by June 30.

The Dallas Education Association could end the strike before Oct. 19, if a new contract is reached.

As of Monday, no new negotiation meetings between the school board and union are scheduled, District Attorney Vito DeLuca and Michael Cherinka said.

Cherinka said the union did not receive a counter offer school board.

DeLuca said the school board members are meeting to discuss the strike, but has not received any potential meeting dates from the union.

Contract sticking points are salaries, pensions, health care and early retirement.

The Dallas School District teachers have been working without a contract since August 2015. The school board and union started the negotiating process in 2014.

On November 2016, teachers went on a 22-day strike, which exceeded the return-to-class date of Tuesday, Dec. 13, set by the state. On Monday, Dec. 19, teachers and students returned to school.

Dallas Education Association teachers walk the picket line on Friday.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_DallasStrikeSecondary.cmyk_.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas Education Association teachers walk the picket line on Friday. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

By Eileen Godin

egodin@timesleader.com

Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews