Philly teachers’ contract expires, talks continue

The contract covering 15,000 Philadelphia public school teachers has expired without a new agreement being reached.

Negotiations between the state-run School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers are still continuing after the expiration of the old collective bargaining agreement at midnight.

The state’s largest district is trying to achieve more than $100 million in concessions from the union as it works to close a $304 million deficit. The teachers have blamed big cuts in state aid for much of the district’s financial problems.

Both sides released statements early Sunday saying they were continuing to work toward a new deal.

Classes for the city’s 190,000 traditional and charter school students are scheduled to begin on Sept. 9.