Donegal school board, teachers OK cuts - Lancasteronline 04/06/2011

Donegal school board, teachers OK cuts Union plan reduces raises for 2 years

Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era

Updated Apr 06, 2011 23:58
By DEAN LEE EVANS, Correspondent


Donegal school board members Wednesday night unanimously approved a reduction in contracted salaries offered by the district's teachers' union.

"This is better than a salary freeze," Amy Swartz, Donegal business manager, said.

The board agreed with a round of applause to the teachers.

"My hat's off to (teachers)," board member Robert Spayde said. "You have done a tremendous thing for this board. You have done a tremendous thing for the taxpayers of this district. And you continue to amaze me with what you do for our children."

Swartz said the offer by the union to take a salary increase of 1.5 percent instead of 3.5 percent for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years saves the district $586,000 in salaries. When benefits on those salaries are taken into account, the total savings to the district is more than $634,000.

"A one-year salary freeze would have saved the district only $464,000," she said.

As part of the offer approved by the board, the four-year contract — approved in early 2010 — would be extended an additional year until June 2015.

Swartz said the 3.5 percent rate would be reinstated for the last two years of the contract.

There was no comment by union representatives at the meeting. However, in a prepared press release, Donegal Education Association co-president Susan Heydt said the two-year agreement allows the district to "focus on education rather than financial uncertainty."

District officials did not have any information regarding the results of the vote taken by the union membership, but Swartz said the vote was "substantial."

"There was strong support by the teachers," she said.

The union's offer was not listed on the district's meeting agenda.

"Things are happening very quickly," board member John Coleman said prior to the meeting.

Swartz said the offer by the union means the district would have to "start the budget all over again."

The district faces a $2.4 million budget shortfall, which amounts to approximately six percent of the district's total budget.

She said the 2011-12 budget did not include the salary savings of the amended teachers' contract.

The administration outlined several proposals Wednesday — some of which were approved by the board — that would contribute toward reducing the budget.

Swartz said the amended teacher's contract is not contingent on anything, and the district could still furlough teachers and staff to bring the shortfall under control.

The amended contract must be reviewed by the district's solicitor and ratified by the union's executive board to reflect Wednesday's board action.

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