Published: August 20, 2008 12:51 am            

NORTH TONAWANDA: Protests overshadow board agenda

It is getting hard for the North Tonawanda School District to meet without a scene similar to that at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Protests are growing more frequent, each offering a small glimpse into the closed-door world of an 18-month contract dispute that has officially reached impasse and now awaits arbitration.

“Dedicated but not compensated,” read signs carried by about 80 members of the district’s local United Teachers Union as they marched around the administration building prior to Tuesday’s School Board meeting.

Gary Lachut, union member and 25-year veteran science teacher at North Tonawanda High School, was among them.

He is a former representative of the group and now sits at the negotiating table for unresolved contract disputes that are now entering their second year. Eighteen months, to be exact.

School officials and union members are now awaiting a state-appointed mediator for talks that officially reached impasse in June.

“There are a lot of disappointed people who are about to go back to work,” he said.

On the subject of raises given to both School Superintendent Vincent Vecchiarella and Assistant Superintendent Susan Villiers this year, Lachut alluded that it reflects a double standard.

“It doesn’t help our position,” he said. “We’re of the opinion that, obviously, compensation is out there for a select few. And we’re out there on the front line.”

CSEA contract negotiations are also stalled and await a similar mediator to intervene in negotiations.

Among the items United Teachers members hope to resolve, Lachut said, is an absence of cost-of-living increases for teachers like himself who have more than 21 years on the job. He said district-wide that approaches one third of the union’s 350 members.

The state’s Taylor Law requires that old contracts must apply for the period during which new ones are being negotiated.

Under the old deal, however, Lachut said senior staff aren’t properly compensated for a consumer index which has risen “approximately four percent per year” since the prior four-year contract officially expired.

Vecchiarella opened with a statement, following comments on behalf of the union.

“The district is seeking a new agreement that is fair to all parties — including United Teachers,” he said.

Also at Tuesday’s school board meeting:

n The board voted to retain Christa Construction L.L.C. as managers of work to be performed through a $48 million bond referendum vote held this spring. The work is intended to upgrade facilities and technology across the district. The WNY firm will be charged with reviewing architects’ designs and establishing estimates for all projects. The information must be reviewed in Albany before bids can be opened and work can begin.

n The board adopted this year’s tax warrant, outlining the district’s fund balance and tax rate. The rate was estimated to increase by 2.05 percent this year but has increased to 2.26 percent. The figure has gone from an increase of 46 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to 50 cents per $1,000 as the result of final 2008 assessments.

Contact reporter Neale Gulleyat 693-1000, ext. 114.

        

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