Teachers, board, still talking at WV
Published: August 26, 2010
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TOWER CITY – Unionized teachers and the Williams Valley School Board will continue contract talks, after a negotiating session August 17 failed to achieve a new employment pact.
The Williams Valley Education Association’s (WVEA) 3-year contract expired June 30, 2010. Of the approximately 85 teachers within the district, about 74 of them are union members. No new negotiating date was available, as of press production.
Several personnel matters were approved during the school board’s last meeting on August 12. Directors Jill Johns, Wendy Matter, and Angela Miller were absent. School Board President Richard J. Updegrove presented a pewter plate on behalf of the district to retiree Kathleen Reed, recognizing Reed’s service to the district as a former elementary school secretary.
The board also approved:
• Hiring Scott Cecco as the pre-season weight training advisor for the 2010-11 school year.
• Drivers and aides for the 2010-11 school year, as proposed by Dennis and Marie Aungst, the district’s transportation contractors.
• Hiring Ralph Musselman, Jr., Tower City, as a substitute custodian for the 2010-11 school year.
• Granting tenure to the following elementary teachers who have successfully completed three consecutive years of teaching: Krisin Oshman, Carla Wynn, LeAnn Unger, and Kori Nye.
• Hiring Emily Volek, Elizabethville, as the assistant marching band director for the 2010-11 school year.
• the list of cafeteria employees for the 2010-11 school year, as employed by Chartwells Associates.
• Hiring Lee Reiser, Tower City, as the Head Softball Coach for the 2010-11 school year.
• Hiring Patti Ulsh as a part-time secretary assigned to the elementary school, effective starting date August 23, 2010, at 4 hours per day/no benefits/ at $9 per hour.
• Hiring Colin John Ackerman, Bethlehem, as a temporary professional employee assigned to teach Business Education at the Jr.-Sr. High School; effective start date, August 18, 2010.
• Hiring Melissa E. Lemke, Pine Grove, as a temporary professional employee assigned to teach Library Science at the Jr.-Sr. High School, effective start date, August 18, 2010.
• Hiring Jaclyn Renner as a temporary professional employee assigned to teach English at the Jr.-Sr. High School, effective start date, August 18, 2010.
• Hiring Scott Felty, Lykens, as a short term professional employee at the regular substitute rate, assigned to teach Business Education at the Jr.-Sr. High School, effective start date August 25, 2010.
• Hiring the following mentors for the 2010-11 school year: Curt Woodford - mentor for Colin Ackerman; April Ross - mentor for Melissa Lemke, and Andrea Leitzel - mentor for English Teacher.
• Hiring Jaclyn Renner, Duncannon, as an assistant volleyball coach, at a salary according to the contract, 85-percent of the salary in the negotiated collective bargaining agreement.
• Hannah Schwak, Williamstown, as a volunteer volleyball coach.
• A Family Medical Leave of Absence for Elementary Teacher Andrea Wagner, effective August 30, 2010 with a return to work date of October 25, 2010.
• Hiring Lindsey Melocheck, Elizabethville, as a long-term substitute for Andrea Wenger for the term August 30, 2010 thru October 22, 2010.
• Rescinding a motion made at the March 25, 2010 board meeting hiring Brian Unger as the 7th and 8th Grade Girls’ Basketball Coach for the 2010-11 schoolyear and amending the motion as follows: Approve the hiring of Brian Under as the 8th Grade Girls’ Baskeball Coach and Tim Harner as the 7th Grade Girls’ Basketball Coach. (The negotiated salary will be split between Unger and Harner.)
• Rescinding a motion made at the board meetings held on May 13 and May 27, 2010 concerning the rental request submitted by the WV Midget Football League and the waiving of rental fees, and amending the motion as follows: When lights are used, your group will be charged a $30 per hour rate for the use of the lights. School employees Kathy Ferraro and/or Sharon patrick will be on-site for all games, so custodial fees can be waived.
In other business, the board approved:
• payment of $1,200 to Ron Bomberger Hardwood Floors, Inc., of Manheim, PA, for the application of an additional coat of varnish to the Elementary Gym floor. Director Tracey Minnich voted no.
• purchasing student desks, chairs, and tables from Tanner Furniture, Harrisburg, PA, in the amount of $4,766.40.
The board also heard a report from Director Gail Ruch from the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit-29 meeting, and from resident Mike Romberger, who asked about the possibility of volleyball net brackets being installed in the high school gym floor.
The board granted permission to the Band Boosters to store/use a microwave in the concession stand at Viking Stadium for the 2010-11 school year. (The district will not be responsible for any damages to the microwave while in storage or in use.) On a related note, the board also granted permission to David Ferraro, owner of Korner Pizzeria, to store a pizza heating unit in the concessin stand at Viking Stadium. (The machine will be used by the Band Booster Organization. The district will be released of any liabilities, should the unit be damaged during the storage time.)
Changes to be made to the bid specifications for trash removal were also discussed.
