Local sports roundup
OST
Dallas, PA Wednesday, July 10, 1991
35 Cents
| as teachers said to ask 9.7% pa y Increase
By vnancur mi ueENMON
Staff Writer
< On the heels of a controversial
17 mill tax increase in the Dallas
School District, a Source close to
negotiations on'a new contract for
teachers says the union has asked
N¥ an average 9.7 percent wage
increase over the next five years,
and increased fringe benefits.
The contract demands report-
edly also call for a starting salary of
$35,000 in the fifth year—up from
the present $20,715. The union is
alsoreportedly asking for improved
dental insurance, vision coverage
and higher life insurance benefits.
While the union has not made a
formal proposal, the source said
these were the outlines given in
preliminary discussions. :
A counter-proposal by the board
has not yet been confirmed.
The average salary in the Dallas
School District is now $41,770.
The average length of service is 21
year. The maximum salary in the
district without additional payment
for department heads -is now
$43,770, and the starting salary is
$20,715.
The teachers also receive the
fringe benefits listed below, as
described in their present contract.
e Health and hospital insurance
including major-medical and den-
tal coverage and an option of Blue
Cross-Blue Shield of HMO ranging
in costs from $1984.82 for a single
person toamaximum of $5,254.92
per family annually, fully paid by
the district.
e Maternity or paternity leave
not to exceed beyond two years.
* Hospitalization plan for spouse
and children up to 23 years Blue
Cross Blue Shield Major-Medical
on outpatient care for 365 days
without co-insurance and the first
$12,000 annually up to $250,000.
* A Dental Plan is basic and
supplemental for the family.
* Personal Life Insurance of
$34,000 paid by the district with
additional lots of $5,000 up be
paid by the teachers.
e After 10 years of teaching
within the Commonwealth of Penn-
sylvania, five years of it within the
Dallas District, teachers are eli-
gible for sabbatical leave at half
their annual salary. Eligible after
that every seven years.
By CHARLOT M. DENMON
Staff Writer
4 Organizers say a slow econ-
Romy and intermittent rain-
7 storms meant lower attendance
at the Back Mountain Library
this year, but Chairman Monty
Evans was pleased with the
$56,000 raised by the event.
“The economic situation no
doubt played a key factor in the
auction,” said the chairman.
“People were bidding but not as
high as in former years. The
Boy Scouts did a great job with
45th Library auction raises $56,000
the children’s auction Satur-
day morning and as always the
antique committee did their full
share.
“The new goods chairpersons
did a super job and the Odds
“N’ Ends booth brought in sev-
eral thousand dollars. Now we
have to wait and see the net
figure after the expenses are
paid.”
“The horse show chaired by
John Shaskas, VMD, and his
wife, several weeks prior to the
Auction netted $4,270 which
was a big help for the library,”
said Nancy Kozemchak, library
manager. “The 2500 cookbooks
when sold will also add some
additional funds which we badly
need. The committee members
are now in the process of collat-
ing them and binding the books,
12 of which were sold over the
block Sunday night for bids
ranging from $16 to $30. The
first completed book was pre-
sented to Mrs. Dana Crump to
whom the cookbook was dedi-
cated.”
Winners of the 50-50 tickets
were John Tomedi, Dallas, first
prize; Ralph Milligan, Dallas,
second; and Lois Noble, Dallas,
third.
The antique prizes were won
by D. Berger, Shavertown, the
tip-top table; C.S. Ushinski,
Wilkes-Barre, electrified oil
lamp; and Shirley Zimmerman,
Pennsylvania candlestick.
Among the timed items auc-
tioned Friday and Saturday
night, Jean Hubbard bought
the gas grill; Clayton Traver
was successful in purchasing
‘the Mountain Bike; Lee Fett's
bid took the Love Seat; and Dr.
Evans bought the man’s gold
watch.
Bidders who purchased the
amethyst diamond ring and the
lawn swing were unidentified
since they paid cash for the
items.
Charlotte Bartizek)
CHRISTMAS IN JULY? - Yes, for some the 45th annual Back
Mountain Memorial Library Auction was like Christmas. Above,
Ernie Ashbridge, antique chairman helped make it happen.
Above right, Eric Koval and brother Mark, Shavertown, enjoy
children’s auction. At left, Theresa Carboni, Sweet Valley looks
for a shower that never came Thursday night. (Post Photos/
* One personal day.
e Permissive absences granted
for emergencies.
e Absence approval for gradu-
ation ceremonies or taking imme-
diate family members to doctor or
for specialist appointments not
possible after school hours.
» Three days for family funeral -
may apply for more if necessary.
* Permissive day for IRS audit or
house closing.
e Reimbursement of $90 per
higher education credit up to 12
credits per year.
e Sick leave bank: Contribute
personal sick leave and can apply
to committee for additional sick
leave. :
* Most teachers teach only five
periods of the eight period day.
e Early retirment Incentive;
Retire at 55 with 25 years service
and receive 70 percent of salary.
* Retire at age 50 receive 75
percent of salary as bonus in
addition to retirement until age 65
then down to 15 percent.
» If retire early receive all health
benefits until eligible for Medicare.
See TEACHERS, pg 3
Dallas District lays
off five teachers
Union president says
action may be illegal
By CHARLOT M. DENMON
Staff Writer
Five teachers have been sus-
pended from the faculty of the
Dallas School District as the school
board has cut back expenses for
the coming school year.
“The dismantling of the Dallas
education program has begun. All
programs are vulnerable this year
and next,” said Dallas Education
Association President William
Wagner after Dallas School Board
members approved suspending the
teachers at their July 8 meeting.
Following the meeting, Wagner
said he will be discussing the
suspensions with the Pennsylva-
nia State Education Association
and that the potential may exist
for litigation against the district.
Teachers and taxpayers sat
patiently through the opening
business of the meeting waiting to
hear how the board planned to
apportion an additional two mills
gained when a 17 mill 1991-92
budget was passed by the board
June 29. It had been anticipated
by many that no more than two
teachers would be suspended.
The audience was stunned when
Personnel Committee head Jack
Cleary first made the motion, sec-
onded by Ellen Nagy, to suspend
Catherine Wega. Board member
John George objected, referring to
a closed-session discussion about
hiring an assistant superintendent.
“There is no way I will stand for an
assistant superiniendent stot'be’
employed. Everything is being
taken away that helps student
activities. I will vote no on every
resolution.”
Board member Tom Stitzer
‘agreed with George.
The resolution to suspend Wega
passed by a close 5-4 vote with
Stitzer, George, Thomas Landon
and Clarence Michael voting
against the suspensions. Nagy,
James Richardson, Ernest Ashbr-
See LAYOFF, pg 3
DAMA solicitor says
he won't sue haulers
By CHARLOT M. DENMON
Staff Writer
The Dallas Area Municipal
Authority (DAMA) will not file suit
against independent trash haul-
ers who are picking up garbage in
defiance of recently-passed ordi-
nances in three Back Mountain
communities, according to the
authority’s solicitor.
Representatives of Dallas and
Kingston townships and Dallas
Borough met with their attorneys
last week to discuss what steps if
any should be taken to stop the
private haulers.
Atty. Ben Jones, solicitor for
DAMA and also for Kingston
Township, said, “There are count-
less municipalities across the state
that have acted exclusively in the
disposal of residential garbage and
recyclables. The ordinance en-
acted by each municipality is not
illegal. Recycling is burdensome
and annoying and it takes time to
get used to it but despite a few
complaints, I believe the program
is working well and as it pro-
gresses I don't believe any kind of
legal action will be necessary.”
“Lawsuits have been threatened
for the past two months but there
has been no suit filed. If there is
then DAMA will be willing to an-
swer it,” Jones said. “So far there '
has been no indication by the
municipalities that they want to
begin any lawsuit and no one
wants to persecute the hauler.
In recent months, officials of
the three municipalities passed
ordinances mandating Dallas Area
Municipal Authority toact as agent
in setting up a program to collect
trash and garbage as well as re-
cyclables in the three communi-
ties.
The Authority (DAMA) accepted
the mandate and DAMA president
R. Spencer Martin appointed a
comittee to investigate and come
up with a feasible program for the
municipalities.
Separate recycling would
have cost more
Looking into the costs of mu-
See DAMA, pg 3
Calendar..........; 14
Classified.....11-13
Editorials............. 4
Obituaries.......... 11
Police report..........o0 ee 2
Property Transfers.......... 2
SChooL........ile iseiaaied 10
SPOS. ......... .ceicirernsennnstany 9
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