JEFFERSON TWP — The teachers strike at South Butler School District could end up costing the district $60,000.

The state Department of Education levied the fine because officials say students will be one day short of the required 180 days of education this year.

According to Act 88, students must have 180 days of instruction. The district's 168 teachers went on strike in March, but are limited in the amount of time they are permitted to strike so that students can get their 180 days of instruction by June 15.

After a strike is called, the department calculates the teachers' return date using that formula.

District Superintendent David Foley explained at Wednesday's school board meeting that when the department counted the number of days in the school year for students, they did not count two Act 80 days held before the strike. Act 80 days are normally counted as instructional days for students, although they do not attend classes.

The department levied a $4,000 fine for each grade level, Foley said. The funds would be withheld from the district's state subsidy at the end of the year.

“We are going to fight that fine,” Foley said. “We don't think we should have to pay that because it is the result of the way the state calculates those days.”

The school board also made a slight change to the school calendar because the last day for teachers was to be June 14, while the students' last day is June 15.

“So we're in a dilemma,” Foley said.

At Foley's recommendation, the board voted 7-1 to give students and staff the day off on May 25 leading into the Memorial Day weekend, and the last day of school for both will be June 15.

The students will have early dismissal on both June 14 and 15, but teachers will have a full day on June 14 and a half-day on June 15.

Foley said he wanted to make June 15 the last day because commencement ceremonies will be held that evening, and the district has traditionally held commencement on the final day of school.

Ian Babb, president of the South Butler Education Association, said the teachers agree to the calendar adjustment.

The Department of Education did not return calls from the Butler Eagle on Thursday.