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<p>DALLAS TWP. &#8212; Dallas teachers received a counteroffer from the school board during negotiations Tuesday night, and it appears the district has made a concession when it comes to health care.</p><p>Board solicitor Vito DeLuca said the offer gives teachers two health care plans to choose from. The first option is a plan which will not require teachers to pay a premium share, but will not have as many benefits. The second will have more benefits, but will include a premium share.</p><p>Currently, Dallas teachers do not contribute toward their monthly premiums. The issue has been a major sticking point in the contract battle that&#8217;s led to two strikes already and potentially a third starting next week.</p><p>Both plans offered by the district Tuesday have reduced benefits compared to what was offered to teachers last October.</p><p>&#8220;We had given an offer that was at the extreme of what the district could afford and as time passed and they refused to accept the offer, we had to reduce our health care offerings,&#8221; DeLuca said.</p><p>&#8220;They&#8217;re still very generous plans,&#8221; he noted, referring to the new proposal.</p><p>To maintain the salary matrix for teachers, the district had to cut health benefits, according to DeLuca.</p><p>The teachers union has given the school board a notice about a potential strike starting Jan. 22. DeLuca said officials &#8220;have no inside knowledge&#8221; about what may happen, but the district is &#8220;trying to be as prepared as possible&#8221; if teachers do indeed strike again.</p><p>The union first went on strike in November 2016. Teachers again hit the picket lines last September.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s something certainly none of us want,&#8221; DeLuca said of another work stoppage. &#8220;You can&#8217;t forget a strike is meant to disrupt.&#8221;</p><p>John Holland of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, a lead negotiator for Dallas teachers, and Michael Cherinka, president of the Dallas Education Association, could not be reached for comment as of late Tuesday.</p><p>It is unclear what the union&#8217;s next step might be. However, the school board will impose a time limit on teachers for making a decision on the latest offer.</p><p>In the meantime, another negotiation session will be held Wednesday.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Kulsoom Khan</p><p>kkhan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Dallas makes new offer to teachers; one health plan has no premium share