Union representatives spoke with the media on Wednesday morning, hours before the union president appeared with the superintendent to welcome new teachers to the district.
Superintendent Tony Watlington called PFT president Arthur Steinberg a "tough negotiator" while speaking to the crowd of new teachers at School of the Future in Parkside.
"We are optimistic about a successful conclusion by the end of the month deadline, and it's important to see that all of our employees feel seen, valued, and heard," said Watlington.
The contract for PFT expires August 31, six days after the school year begins, so students will be in class for at least the first week.
"I believe they have the right to know that school is going to open uninterrupted, that their educational program will continue unabated, and they have somewhere to send their kids when school starts," said Steinberg.
RELATED: Possible teachers strike looms for School District of Philadelphia amid threat of SEPTA cuts
At a press conference hours before that orientation, the union did say it's ready to strike and has been working out logistics while teachers make picket signs.
Some sticking points for teachers include higher wages, better benefits, and paid parental leave.
"Our schools are not safe, they're not healthy for anybody to work in, to go to school in. We have a hard time with teacher retention and a hard time attracting new talent," said Kate Sundeen, a teacher at Academy of Palumbo.
The district says it is listening to teachers, who argue they're fighting for students, too.
"There's significant work that has to be done, but it's doable," said Steinberg.
Both sides return to the negotiating table on Thursday.
This comes as families in the district also keep a watchful eye on the ongoing SEPTA funding crisis. Roughly 52,000 public school students take SEPTA to get to and from classes.
"We are going to do everything humanly possible to support parents and think about carpools, other workarounds with them to the extent that we can," Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington said.
RELATED: Gridlock continues over SEPTA funding, with no solution in sight
Philadelphia School teachers return to work on August 18.
The school year begins August 25 - a day after phase one of those looming SEPTA cuts kicks in.