ET TT ie 11.93% for the 1991-92 school 8.26%. For six districts in 1993- ee : year to 8.12% for the 1995-96 94, the range is 8.0% to 8.78% 0 f H li d FIREPLACE. LAKE-VIEW DINING. 3 school year or the fifth year of the compared to Hazleton's 13.01%. py! rom O ay Party FABULOUS MENU AND PRIVATE Contacts By we Association's For three Deira In ionton be Pp) HILL. SID PARTY ROOM FOR UPTO80 PEOPLE computation such increase would range is 8.19% t09.78% comparec ) : average 9.85% over the five year to Pltons 11.51%. °° E But | oure Ria anor ihe contract. RECOMMENDATION: My rec- t* FOR EVERYONE. : bs An examination of the evidence ommendations regarding salary | FARMS DAIRY STORE Runni Out BUT TIME'S.RUNNING OUT To : indicates that average salary in- increases are as follows: “ : ng MAKE YOUR HOLIDY PARTY i iene 1 the contiguous school 1991-92 - 8.50% \ Of Tly RESERVATIONS Ja istricts shows an average increase -93 - 8.759 N Nol 7 of 8.25% in ht an 8.9% 100i. gan as YIIIC. CALL TODAY 639-1264. : | increase in 1992-93; a 9.0% in 1994-95 - 9.00% I = i | 1993-94; a9.6% increase in 1994- = The percentage increases are to 2 95. A closer examination of those be applied to the rates set forth in 10 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Tuesday, December 24, 1991 Board rejects (continued from page 1) “It would cost over 10%, near the 11% mark if we gave them all the benefit packages that they're asking for,” said Ashbridge. “The teachers are doing a great job, we don't say they are not,” said Ashbridge. “I don't think the asso- ciation is being reasonable when they ask for that kind of increase.” Ashbridge feels that a reason- able increase in today's market would be a cost-of-living increase. “The three board members, they were asking to be realistic, but that fell on deaf ears,” said Ashbr- idge. “There are steps so that a teacher's salary, if they were to continue with their current con- tract, they would automatically get araise. What they want todo is get 8.5% on top of their step.” The highest increase in salary would be about $8,800 in a single year, said Ashbridge. Among the school board's con- cerns in negotiating the contract is ‘a possible change in funding from the state. State support decreased from 44.7% of the district's budget in 1986-87, to 37.9 percent in 1991-92. “We don’t know where the state funding is. It's really a whole dif- ferent ballgame. We have to walk lighter than we have been,” said board member John George. “I'm not in favor of anything but a two- year contract, possibly a three. I would be for a status quo, Just stay where you are and see where you're going.” Steve Werner, president of the Dallas Taxpayers Forum, said that one of the objectives of his organi- zation is to change the way teach- ers bargain with the school dis- trict. “We don't want to hurt the teach- ers,” said Werner. “There are some very fine ones. Our goal is to evolve a system where we don't have contracts every two or three years, but where the teachers are judged by merit.” The Taxpayers Forum has pre- sented the school board with 1,176 signatures asking for a two-year salary freeze and the implementa- tion of a merit pay program. Bargaining between the district and teachers began in January of 1991, and the teachers have been working without a contract since September of this year. Wagner says that the teachers have not discussed striking, but added that it's “always an option.” “My hope is that we'll be back at the table,” said Wagner. The teach- ers will meet in early January to discuss their next move. Ashbridge said that negotiations would commence in the middle of January. Report . (continued from page 1) educational excellence of the School District and they both real- ize that the objective requires sac- rifice and compromise on both sides. The School District raised its original proposal from $2,100.00 per year for two years to $2,450.00 ' over its proposed three year con- tract. By its own computation such increase would amount to 17.68% for the three year period. The Asso- ciation's proposal ranged from an average increases indicates that the Hazleton Area School District, which in the school year 1990-91 had an average salary of $31,915.00, had the lowest aver- 1994-95. Obviously the teachers in that school district are playing “catch-up”. However, those per- centage increases definitely skew the average percentage increases noted in the foregoing paragraph. For instance, the percentage in- creases for nine of the districts, excluding Hazleton Area, ranges form 7.5% to 8.54% in 1990-91. Foreightdistricts in 1992-93, again excluding Hazleton Area's 14.95% increase, the range is from 7.8% to the 1990-91 salary, schedule at each of the steps and ito each of the’ columns. The columnar differences are to remain as in the current contract. The Dallas School Board voted 5 to 3 to uphold the furloughs of four teachers at a special meeting December 17. The district held a two-night hearing on October 21 and 22 to determine if it was legal for the four teachers to have been furloughed, and one teacher changed from full, to part-time status. The teachers, represented by attorney Charles Herring of Philadelphia, argued that they were furloughed for eco- nomic reasons, which is contrary to state law. ‘The school district, through the testimony of superintendent Ger- ald Wycallis, argued that the fur- loughs were because of changes in the district's curriculum. The teachers were furloughed on July 8, and include Catherine Wega, Mary Ann Storz, Carol Har- ding, Margaret Schuler, and Paul Brown. Harding withdrew her request for a hearing, to be re- placed by Nancy Ferko, who was demoted from full to part-time status. Brown and Storz are cur- rently filling in for teachers who are on leave, while Schuler, Wega and Ferko are on sabbatical. Board members John George, Thomas Stitzer, and Clarence Michael voted against accepting the “Findings of Fact” document prepared by attorney Robert Panowicz under the board's direc- tion. Ernest Ashbridge, Ellen Nagy, James Richardson, Richard Cos- lett and John Cleary voted to up- hold the furloughs. Board member Thomas Landon [IR SFE AL LI d ELE AE LTS —— Happy Holidays; was absent from the meeting be- cause of military reserve duty. The report concludes that the furloughs were done because of curriculum changes, were ap- proved by the Department of Education, and were not arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of dis- cretion. The four furloughed teachers may appeal the decision to Luzerne County Court, while Ferko may appeal to the state Secretary of Education. Assistant superintendent appointed The school directors also voted 6 to 2 to appoint middle school principal Dr. Gilbert Griffiths to the position of assistant superin- .tendent of curriculum and instruc- tion. Stitzer and George both voted against the appointment because they felt a new administrative position is not needed. “Mr. Griffiths is an excellent principal, we just don't have the money,” said Stitzer. “I don’t know how we can go ahead and spend $40,000 or $50,000 when we don't have a contract with our teach- ers.” : “I think we need a superinten- dent of curriculum and instruc- tion, but not with four teachers furloughed,” said William Wagner, president of the Dallas teachers’ union. “This puts the administra- tion at status quo. They have the same number of administrators they had last year. But we are still short our four teachers. That's ata cost of $30,000 to $40,000.” KS Hillside Rd. 696-2881 OPEN DAILY 8:00 AM. - 8:00 P.M. Trucksville » 3% Dallas board upholds 4 teacher furloughs By ERIC FOSTER Post Staff While Griffiths’ position as middle school principal will be posted, for the time period, he says he will wear both hats, and earn the same salary as he now does, which is approximately $45,000. “There are no additional funds being spent,” said board member James Richardson in defense of the appointment. “I feel we are tremendously short-handed in management,” Fact-finder said board member Ellen Nagy. “This is a $14 million dollar busi- ness we're talking about and you have to have management people there. It's not a new position. It was done before by Mr. (Fred) Templin and Mr. Wycallis.” Templin, who had been super- visor of curriculum and instruc- . tion, retired at the end of the spring 1991 semester, and his position was not filled at that time. (continued from page 1) what percentage increases other districts have given their teachers in recent years. “The state made a big thing on doing this,” said Cleary of the hearing, which lasted for about six hours on October 24. Cleary said that Hamrick showed up at the hearing without enough cassette tapes to record all the testimony. “He had Pavarotti tapes he didn't want to tape over,” said Cleary. “You couldn't possibly sit through that without a steno- graphic record. What he recom- mended was no meeting in the ‘middle.” “I think some of the factors were not taken into consideration,” said Dallas . superintendent Gerald Wycallis, “... the state of the econ- omy. The economy is not in good stead. I personally think that this has to come into play.” Wycallis wouldn't comment on ‘the Pavarotti tapes, except to say that there was some difficulty in taping the hearing, and the taping is not required. “If our teachers were grossly underpaid, I would be the first to lead the charge,” said Cleary, but he points out, they're the best paid in the area. “Both of my parents were teachers. My mother, I can remember days when she was making halfof what the guys in the UAW were.” “First and foremost we have to acknowledge that we have some excellent teachers,” said Cleary. “I have a business, and I would very much like to make what I made last year. The benefit package that exists now is twice what I can afford for my company and my- self.” : For his part, Ernest Ashbrigge, president of the school boar, and a member of the negotiating com- mittee along with Cleary and James Richardson, says he wasn't sur- prised by the report. “I was not surprised at all with the outcome,” said Ashbridge, who is in his fifth term as a school board member. “It's really what I expected.” We Want To ¢ Spice Up Your THE NEW GROTTO P1zZZA HAS THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY. OUR COMBINATION OF WARM age salary of the twelve school, Realizing the complexity of the districts in L.I.U. 18. Meanwhile, salary question and the obvious *. Ice Cream Parlor - 11:30 A.M. - 8: 00 P. Mo the legendary taste . Dallas School District had the emphasis given to the salary pro- Wea yuss Ze -. Na e a: HARVEYS LawE : highest average salary of $39,620.00in 1990-91, which was over $3,800.00 above the average for the districts of $35,789.00. As a result of the above figures, ~ Hazleton Area School District has increased its salary by 9.6% in 1991-92; 14.95% in 1992-93; 13.01%in 1993-94and 11.51% in posals by the respective parties, this Fact-Finder would be recep- tive to assisting the parties upon their request. It should be under- stood that such offer of assistance is restricted to the question of salary. Hamrick Finder John M. Fact Lito to 0B RR For The Holidays & Copay and Russell Stover i Candies - Channel - Shalimar - Aspen - Also Obsession - Drakkar - Polo for Men FINO'S PHARMACY - = Yl OR FPPIPVRIPRPIPRIPRIRPE 7 3 Main Street, Dallas, PA 675-1141 ! 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"We use a drawing of the Inn so that people will 5 Ce Z SNE know we offer a unique setting as well as distinctive food." | i Je Bh With Matt, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, \ : bet 0 li d a fl r | ti in the kitchen, the Pine Brook is looking forward to serving y 3 y 0 a crea IONS many new diners as the years go by. 3 : Whether you're starting a new business or trying to expand a ; 5 : made | J u St for yO u an existing one, advertising in The Dallas Post can help. The Pine Brook's bar offers a cozy atmosphere % | For 75 years, we've been making custom floral arrangements i for any occasion. Stop in and pick the elements that ’ ] : , coordinate with your home, and we'll weave them into a h D 11 }P { 2 i centerpiece or other showpiece unlike any other. C d ds O05 E Hill the Florist Growing with the Back Mountain | ae | 3 North Pioneer Avenue, Shavertown 309-415 Plaza, Dallas : | ’
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