JERSEY SHORE - Negotiations still are under way between the school district and its teachers and administrators, but Jersey Shore's custodial and maintenance staff, assistant superintendent and business administrator all have agreed to a wage freeze for the 2011-12 school year, school board President Harry Brungard announced at Monday's meeting.
Superintendent Richard J. Emery's contract does not include a raise for the upcoming year.
District Business Manager Adrienne Craig said the wage freezes will not provide additional funds for the budget; a teacher wage freeze most likely will not allow the district to retain any employees whose jobs have been eliminated from the preliminary budget.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Robert Conroy broke down the proposed cuts to teacher staff, saying the administration chose to cut positions that would have the minimal negative impact on students.
Jersey Shore has 56 teachers in four elementary schools, and the preliminary budget eliminates two of those teachers. Kindergarten and first-grade classes would remain the same, with 10 teachers each. Second grade would keep its nine teachers, but one second-grade class would be moved from Nippenose Elementary to Jersey Shore Elementary. Third grade teachers would be reduced from nine to seven, with one third-grade class eliminated each from Avis Elementary and Nippenose.
In other matters, the board approved in a 7-1 vote an agreement with Johnson Controls to file an application on the district's behalf for PPL Act 129 rebates. Board member John Shireman voted against the measure, saying he wanted to investigate using other companies besides Johnson Controls.
"They don't have any experience with this," he said.
"They do have a lot of experience," Craig countered, adding that the rebate money from PPL is handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The board also recognized board member Ted Fanning for his 28 years of service on the board. Fanning was presented with a Pennsylvania School Board Association Award by Tom Zimmerman, a PSBA and Williamsport Area School Board member.
