Final contract approved by school board

MIFFLINTOWN - A final contract was approved between the Juniata County School Board of Directors and the Juniata County Education Association, bringing applause from members of the public who attended the special meeting Thursday.

After almost two years of negotiations and the possibility of a strike, the contract was approved unanimously in a 6-0 vote Thursday, with board members Ralph Bashore, John Noss and Richard Burchfield being absent.

School Board President Gary Zeiders asked if all directors were informed of the meeting, and School Board Secretary Kenneth Eyler answered yes.

At a June 26 school board meeting, Bashore, Burchfield and Noss issued the three dissenting votes on a previous contract agreement. During the meeting, the contract was amended by Burchfield regarding language in Article 9, Section A, about reimbursing teachers for continuing education credits and participation in professional development activities.

After the June 26 meeting, members of JCEA spoke with school district administrators and amended the school board's amended contract. The teachers' amendment states that all reimbursement requests must be approved by the superintendent. The union voted to approve the contract on July 2.

School board members were required to vote again on the contract because of the teachers' amendment.

Zeiders commended Burchfield for bringing the language of Article 9, Section A to the other members' attention.

In regard to the approval of the contract, Zeiders said he was relieved.

"I can't feel excited about it, but I'm glad its over," he said. "We're moving on. We have a lot more to do in this school district."

Zeiders also thanked members of the teachers' union for quickly organizing a voting meeting on July 2.

"I applaud the teachers for voting so soon and getting it done," he said.

JCEA President Wayne Chrismer said he thanks the school board members and administration for their support for the contract, emphasizing that the agreement was a compromise.

"I am very relieved and happy that this is all over," Chrismer said. "I am happy to return to school and return to the education of our youth."

When contacted at home by The Sentinel, Noss said he decided not to attend the meeting because he thought the contract would be approved.

"I didn't want to be any part of it," Noss said. "I don't think the people of Juniata County need to be saddled with more taxes," which he said he believes are inevitable with the current contract.

The three-year contract, which retroactively covers the 2007-2008 school year, will expire on June 30, 2010. The school district will reimburse teachers for the salary increase of the first year in the contract because it has already passed; however, teachers also are required to reimburse the school district for health care costs for the first year.

According to contract information from Eyler, who also is the business manager for the school district, Juniata County will receive $73,710 in reimbursements for health care, and they will pay $87,258 to reimburse teachers for salary raises in the contract.

Terms of the contract include salary increases of 3.99 percent for the first and second years and 4 percent for the third year, and per-pay health care premium sharing of $13.50 for single, dual and family plans during the first year; $20 for single, $23 for double and $25 for family plans for the second year; and $22 for single, $25 for dual and $27 for family plans for the third year.

School board member Christine Shadel, who voted in favor of the contract, said she was happy that students will begin school on time.

"It (the contract) could have been better, but we compromised," she said.

School board member Elaine Van Horn, who also voted to approve the contract, said she was glad the school board approved the contract, and it can continue with its other business.

"I think we came to a reasonable agreement," Van Horn said. "It (the contract) will get us through until it is time to do it again."

Also voting in favor of the contract was Ronald Shearer, who said, "The action we took this evening will assure 3,143 children that school will start on time for the next two years.

"Some people will feel we did good. Some people will feel we did bad, but we did the best we could. Children and their education are our responsibility," Shearer said.

Superintendent Kenneth Albaugh also was pleased that the parties reached an agreement.

"It has been a long, trying year for the board ... but every school board meeting was conducted professionally," Albaugh said. "We can go on with the educational business of the school district."

The contract will become public record, Albaugh added.

Directors Mark Wagner and Bashore declined to comment about the teachers' contract. Burchfield and Randy Dressler were unavailable for comment after the meeting.