PHOENIXVILLE — The Phoenixville Area Education Association released a statement explaining why it turned down Phoenixville Area School District’s counter to its own counter offer during negotiations last week.

“The PAEA was unable to respond with a counter offer at Wednesday’s negotiating session.” the statement said. “Although both sides made movement on several issues, it was insufficient for the PAES negotiating team to develop a counter offer.”

Both sides met Jan. 23 in the presence of the director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation, William Gross.