Tuesday, February 21, 2012
A "sound majority" of teachers who voted throughout the day on Tuesday approved the contract. The school board later unanimously approved it.
Parkland teachers approved a new two-year contract Tuesday that freezes their pay for the next school year and requires them to contribute to their health care coverage the following year. Parkland Education Association President Sandi Gackenbach said "a very sound majority" approved the contract for the 2012 to 2014 school years in votes cast throughout the school day. She did not disclose the exact vote, but said, "There were very few who did not approve, less than 50." The association represents 626 teachers, nurses, guidance counselors and other professional staff. Not everyone had cast ballots. Within hours of the teachers' vote, the Parkland School Board, following an executive session, also approved the contract at its meeting. …
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Tuesday, January 24, 2012
It's a necessary part of the budget process that won't be completed until June.
Parkland School Board will vote tonight on a preliminary budget for the 2012-2013 school year that is expected to require the district to raise taxes beyond the state index of 1.7 percent. School officials say the projected tax hike of 4.95 percent would be reduced by June, when a final budget must be adopted, as the district looks to reduce its costs and explore creative ways to raise revenue. It is not yet known how a new teachers' contract will affect the district's numbers. The administration and teachers union have reached a tentative agreement, but the union will not vote on the agreement until Feb. 21. Parkland School District officials have said they are considering cuts in personnel, transportation and supplies as they prepare the…
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Members of the Parkland teachers union learned details of the tentative agreement on Monday night.
The Parkland Teachers Association's tentative agreement with the Parkland School District administration would freeze teachers' salaries in the first year of a two-year contract, according to a source familiar with the agreement. It also calls for the district's teachers to each receive a $1,250 salary increase in the second year of the contract, but would require them to contribute to their health care coverage. Union members learned details of the tentative agreement at a meeting Monday night. The proposed salary freeze does not come as a surprise. Parkland's administrators took a pay freeze for the current school year, and union and district officials had indicated as early as last April the possibility of a zero-percent salary …
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
The teachers union was in early bird contract negotiations with the Parkland School District administration.
The Parkland teachers union has apparently reached a tentative contract agreement with the Parkland School District administration in early bird negotiations. Details are not yet available. However, union and district officials indicated as early as last April the possibility of a zero-percent salary increase in at least the first year of the new contract. The Parkland Teachers Association, which must vote on the contract, is scheduled to meet Monday to discuss details of the tentative agreement. A vote will follow in February, according to a memo sent to union members that was obtained by South Whitehall Patch. Teachers are in the last year of a five-year contract. Early bird negotiations got under way last fall, with both sides hoping …
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Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Parkland School District officials are bracing for another tough budget season as they prepare for the 2012-2013 school year.
Parkland School District officials are considering cuts in personnel, transportation and supplies as they prepare the 2012-2013 budget, Business Director John Vignone told the school board at its meeting Tuesday night. "We know there are going to be tough decisions, no doubt about it," Vignone said. Among the recommendations: The district also plans a spending freeze, beginning Feb. 1 The board will adopt its preliminary budget in January. Vignone said the value per mill is projected to stay constant, bringing in $2.3 million in revenue. But he said interest rates are at historic lows, new construction remains sluggish and commercial properties continue to appeal their assessments, which could result in lower tax contributions to the …
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
District superintendent said he is no longer recommending an earlier start date after teachers union advised against signing a memorandum of understanding.
Parkland School District officials have decided against pursuing a pre-Labor Day start to the 2012-2013 school year. Superintendent Richard Sniscak told the Personnel and Finance Committee on Monday that he sent a memorandum of understanding to the Parkland Education Association, which is in early contract negotiations with district officials, suggesting the change to an earlier start. However, Sniscak said, the Pennsylvania State Education Association subsequently advised the teachers union to not sign the memorandum of understanding because of the ongoing contract negotiations. Consequently, he said, he no longer is recommending the change to the school calendar. Earlier this year, Sniscak had talked to school board committees about the …
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Friday, August 19, 2011
Union head is optimistic that negotiations will go smoothly.
The head of the Parkland Education Association said Thursday the teachers’ union will enter into "early-bird" contract negotiations with the Parkland School District administration in hopes of reaching an early agreement on a new contract. "Early bird is what we would hope to accomplish," said Association President Sandi Gackenbach. The school board gave Superintendent Richard Sniscak the go-ahead this week to begin the informal negotiations with the union. Formal negotiations would begin in January if an agreement is not reached. “This is a good time to begin contract negotiations knowing that our teacher’s contract is expiring in a year, especially as the law known as Act 1 has significantly pushed the budget planning process forward by…
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Missy Moyer-Schneck
1:23 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011
So you managed to change that around, now the district should look further into it's idea of splitting a family of students up into two different elementary schools for the new school year, I mean honestly, where is the mentality in this district to even think it's the right thing to do when you have two children in the SAME house going to two different elementary schools....I'm pretty sure the … more ›