Beth-Center teachers, students, residents speak at meeting
DEEMSTON – Crowding the room where the Bethlehem-Center School Board meets, teachers in the district and a handful of community members and students spoke to the school board about the teacher strike, during the board’s regular meeting Monday evening. Clemmy Allen, a representative of the United Mine Workers of America, asked the school board to give the teachers a “fair and equitable” contract, while Randi Knizner, a parent of a kindergartener in the district, told the board that “lowest paid teachers” are the “lowest quality teachers.”
“The teachers will go to someone who pays. I’ll probably move,” she said. “I’m a taxpayer here and you will lose my money.”
Suzanne Plachta, a parent of a high school student, also sided with the teachers.
“We have good, quality teachers. I hate to lose them somewhere else because of salary,” she said. “I want to appreciate my fellow citizens. I don’t want to hold anger in my heart against them.”
Her daughter Jessica said she loved her teachers and did not understand why the board does not give the teachers what they want.
“I suggest you keep these teachers. You will lose your students,” she said. “I have many plans for my future. Honor them. Honor me. Let us fill our dreams. Get us back in school please.”
Taxpayer Kathy Tretinik said she may not understand all the issues, but knows she can’t afford a tax increase.
“We live in a depressed area,” she said. “I have trouble making ends meet when it comes tax time.”
Wade Smith, board member and spokesman, told the crowd that the board and the teachers’ union exchanged written proposals at their last negotiation meeting with no change in the offers from either party. The board offered $1,300 and the union asked for $1,900 across the board without a step increase.
Smith also refuted items from an advertisement that the teachers’ union ran in a local paper. The advertisement made claims, such as, the board received $272,896 from the state for passing the PSSA, but Smith said that money was a block grant that pays for kindergarten. He also said the teaching staff was not reduced by nine, but four. Records show that from 1998 to this school year teachers went down four and the district lost 254 students in the same time period, he said, adding that every teacher covers less than 13 students.
Members of the crowd did not agree with that number, however.
Smith also refuted claims that the school board would save $1.1 million in health care because of negotiations and that the board over budgeted health care by $270,000.
“We don’t have the choice,” Smith said. “If we had the money, the board would give it. We’d love to make the teachers comparable to Washington County.”
The next negotiating session is scheduled for Oct. 26. The next planning meeting for the board is scheduled for Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. The regular board meeting will follow at 7 p.m.