Published Friday, May 10, 2002
HERMITAGE
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Public can comment to arbiter
Herald Staff Writer
The Hermitage School Board stood firm on yearly raises for teachers but the Hermitage Education Association backed off of its earlier demand in "final best offers" the sides presented to an arbiter Thursday.
The board and the teachers union made their offers as part of non-binding arbitration under way to resolve contract negotiations that have dragged on for more than a year and resulted in a seven-day teachers' strike in March. An arbiter from the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will review the offers.
Salary increases have been the sticking point between the board and the 165-member union. Teachers have been working without a contract since July.
The biggest difference in the offers Thursday was the salary increase. The school board held their ground at a roughly $1,600-a-year salary increase, and the 165-member HEA lowered their request from about $2,700 to about $2,200 a year, according to HEA chief negotiator Paul Estock.
The union's offer did not include a dollar figure for the raises but did request raises tied to the federal government's annual cost of living adjustment -- or COLA. The union is asking for the COLA plus 1 percent a year.
"We said all along that we were willing to move down. You'll notice the board didn't move," said Estock, a sixth grade math teacher in the district.
"$1,600 has always been our best offer and it still is our best offer," said Director Jesse Hull, who along with Directors Timothy J. Ruffo, and James Lumpp, make up the board's negotiating team.
"We stayed at $1,600 because we felt if was fair," said Duane Piccirilli, school board president.
Some of the other issues in the "final best" offers included:
The increase is tied to the number of HEA members who retire. The district puts $2,500 in a pot for each retiree during a five-year period and at the end of that time, the money is divided between teachers below the step 15 pay grade, according to school Director James Lumpp.
The last time the money was given out, teachers received an additional $700 in the fifth year, Lumpp added. The money represents attritional savings on payroll.
Presenting the offer for the teachers were several members of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. The HEA negotiating team of Estock, fifth grade teacher Doane Bailey and Hermitage Middle School science teacher Tim Jones were also in attendance, according to Piccirilli.
Hermitage School District Business Manager Eugene Fornadel, and former board secretary Shirley Gibson presented the district's case to the arbiter, and the board's negotiating team was present. Superintendent Karen Ionta attended the arbitration hearing.
Both offers are on display at the Central Administration Building inside Artman Elementary School for 10 days, a requirement of Act 88 which governs the arbitration process. Copies are available for a small fee.
A book will be available until May 20 for the public to write comments in. It will be given to the arbiter to review. Correspondence concerning the offers can also be sent to the Hermitage Arbitration Panel, attention William E. Caldwell, 515 Stony Lane, State College, Pa, 16801.
The hearing will reconvene June 5, Estock said. Piccirilli said a decision may be made at that time.