Manheim Township teachers say 'givebacks' are still under discussion-Lancasteronline 04/06/2011

Manheim Township teachers say 'givebacks' are still under discussion
Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era

Updated Apr 06, 2011 23:58
By BRIAN WALLACE, Staff Writer


The president of the Manheim Township teachers' union said teachers are "prepared to continue discussing economic considerations and givebacks" with the school district to help it balance next year's budget.

But Tod Harach, speaking at a public forum Wednesday, said Manheim Township Education Association also wants guarantees that successful academic programs won't be cut and that class sizes won't grow.

Harach made his first public statements since the union notified the school board Friday that it had rejected a request for teachers to take a pay freeze or cut their raises by 50 percent next year. A pay freeze would save the district about $1 million.

The union leadership apparently rejected the request without the full membership voting on it. A resident at the hearing said that left the district's teachers "in an incredibly difficult position."

The comments came during a two-hour hearing on the district's 2011-12 budget, at which the administration explained how it plans to cut an additional $750,000 in spending to help fill a $4.7 million funding gap next year.

Among the proposed new cuts are the elimination of three custodial and plant services positions and seven secretarial positions, and reducing librarian positions from full time to half time.

The district several months ago announced other proposed cuts, including the elimination of underenrolled music courses, the layoffs of five teachers and a 50 percent reduction in stipends for coaches and advisers.

One resident, whose husband is a teacher, criticized the cuts.

"As a community, we seem not to understand that teachers, coaches and teachers of the performing arts are the ones making the biggest influences on how much students excel," she said.

"When there are tough choices to be made, the last thing to be cut should be the backbone of education — teachers and coaches."

Other parents expressed sadness that teachers who have had a profound influence on their children will be laid off next year.

Current high school students involved in the performing arts also complained about the proposed cuts in music electives, the elimination of the fourth-grade strings program and the furloughing of a music teacher.

Superintendent Gene Freeman said all the reductions are painful, but the district is facing unprecedented financial challenges that aren't going away next year.

"When you have a $4.7 million deficit, there's no way to not feel the pinch," he said. "I think it's all harsh. This stuff is very hard, which means everything is difficult to make decisions on."

Other residents pointed out the need for sacrifices on the part of everyone, including teachers.

"I've lived in the township for 10 years, and I've watched my mortgage go up every year because of school taxes," Donald Dresser said.

"I'm not saying that those taxes are bad, but when someone stands up and says it's that stingy taxpayer (demanding cuts), well, there's a point where everyone has to chip in and take a share."

Resident Barbara Jones said she teaches in another district where teachers recently agreed to a pay freeze.

"I'm not happy about it, but I did it. I'm just saying look around. It's not easy, but I think we all have to do what we can," she said.

"I love this district and my district as well, but I think we do need to work together. Teachers, if we don't try to give just a little bit, what's going to happen to the kids?"

The administration in December asked teachers to consider a freeze or a cut in their raises to 2 percent, instead of the 3.9 percent average guaranteed in next year's contract.

On Friday, the union notified the board the requests had not been accepted. Exactly how they were rejected remained unclear Wednesday.

The union rank and file met to discuss the requests, but apparently did not vote on them. School board members Wednesday night said they did not know exactly what the union or its leadership voted on.

When Harach was asked, after the hearing, to clarify the issue, he referred the question to Wendy Leary, a negotiator with the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

"We are in discussions with the school board, and because of confidentiality, the only statement we have is what Tod made," she said, referring to Harach's comments during the hearing.

"We can't discuss anything until all discussions are final. As soon as discussions are final, you'll know."

The district must approve a budget by June 30.

bwallace@lnpnews.com

Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/372207#ixzz1JSRVCTcr