Six jobs saved as Nazareth Area School District group agrees to concessions

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Six Nazareth Area School District support staff jobs have been reinstated in the $67 million budget after two unions agreed to give back a portion of their raises next year.

Under terms finalized on Friday, Superintendent Victor Lesky said the Support Staff Association and the Management Association, made up of more than 100 employees, agreed to accept half of their contracted raises for the 2011-12 school year.

Lesky estimated the give back from the support workers union will save the district about $120,000 while the give back from the management association is more than $47,000, creating $167,000 in savings.

As a result, the district has agreed to return the six support staff members scheduled to be furloughed for the 2011-12 school year, he said.

"The district is appreciative that the action taken by the support staff and the administration allows us to save jobs and place more of our limited financial resources into the educational programs and services our students need to be successful in the classroom," Lesky said.

Support staffers include secretaries, business office employees, clerical assistants, associate teachers, associate nurses, associate librarians, hall monitors, copy center personnel and cafeteria employees.

Administrators had previously agreed to decrease their annual raises from 3.75 percent to 1.7 percent. Lesky previously said administrators had offered to go to a zero percent increase if the teachers and staff also agree to a zero increase.

Already on the chopping block in the $67 million budget, finalized in May, are more than a dozen district jobs — including seven teachers — and the elimination of the district’s driver’s education program. The district's copy center also has been eliminated, slashing an additional two positions. Copy machines will be moved back into the schools, officials have said.

Board President Lorin Bradley said if the teachers work out a pay freeze compromise, some jobs could be reinstated.

"If we were able to come to that agreement, I think that opens up a variety of possibilities of different types of outcomes we'd be willing to discuss," Bradley said.

The school board has until June 30 to reinstate any of the cuts and is working with the unions to gain concession agreements. The budget still includes a $453,000 deficit, which Lesky said he plans to fill with reserve funds.

Support Staff Association President Mae Morrison could not be reached for comment Friday.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2011/06/six_jobs_saved_as_nazareth_are.html