Report coming on teacher talks

First Posted:

UNION TWP. – According to comment at Wednesday night’s Northwest Area School Board meeting, state mediator Jack Yanchulis is expected to submit a report on Monday on stalled contract talks between the Northwest Area Education Association and the negotiating committee for the board.

There was no other direct commentary about the status of negotiations, except that, according to board President Randy Tomasacci, the teachers’ contract was included on the agenda for an executive session, which was conducted prior to the regular meeting.

In November, Albert Gordon, chairman of the negotiating committee, announced that after two years, an impasse existed. As a result, he said both sides agreed to go to non-binding arbitration, with Yanchulis retained as mediator.

The only other major issue to come before the board involved the high school football program and the need, according to Mike Politiz, parent of a football player, to institute new policy to avert a repeat of a situation in November in which Northwest was forced to forfeit a playoff game because an ineligible player was utilized in a contest against Muncy.

Ryan Miner said improved communications are being formulated to avert a reoccurrence.

In a related matter, the varsity football coaching position, currently held by Carl Majer, was among three coaching positions that have been posted for applicants. The other two are field hockey and cross country. Superintendent Ronald Grevera said the posting is standard policy; anyone in the school district is eligible to apply and be considered for hiring.

In other matters:

• Reorganization resulted in the unanimous re-election of Tomasacci as president. On a 6-3 vote, Peter Lanza was chosen as vice president.

• The board also acted to continue in 2013 the policy of scheduling regular meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., except for September (Sept. 18), November (Nov. 13) and December (Dec. 5).