JEFFERSON TWP — The last day of school for South Butler School District students remains June 15, but the last day for teachers is up in the air.

Dave Foley, South Butler superintendent, said Thursday that two Act 80 days used in the fall were counted as instructional time, as permitted by the state Department of Education.

But in a strike year, the Education Department disallows Act 80 days as instructional days, meaning that the district should add two days onto the end of an already extended calendar.

Brooke Witt, the teachers' Uniserv negotiator, said now that the Act 80 days are not going to count, the teachers' last day would be June 14, one day before the current last day of school for students.

Witt said the district could pay the Education Department a fine for shorting the students' year, pay the teachers for the day or days they must work over the 187 in their contract, or negotiate some other solution with the state.

Foley said district solicitor Tom Breth is checking into legal opinions regarding the Education Department counting the two Act 80 days, which would eliminate the problem altogether.

“We are trying to abide by the teachers' contract and the law,” Foley said.

He said it is still too early to determine what avenue the district will take.

“We'll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Foley said.