Decisions Will Impact Pocket Books

The Montrose Education Association told the school board last week that it will no longer perform duties outside of the classroom and delivered resignations from those posts.

Frustrated with what they called an “acrimonious” relationship with the school board, the instructors said they would restrict their activities essentially only to classroom instruction and would no longer involve themselves with serving as class advisors, student council, chaperones, after school detention or adult evening classes, among others.  Their move does not include sports coaching positions.

“Our decision to resign from these positions that we take great pride in did not come easily,” Montrose Education Association head Teri Evans said in a letter read to the board last Monday.  “However, we feel it necessary to devote more of our professional time to instruction in our classrooms to ensure that we can effectively address the diverse needs and challenges of our students for the upcoming school year,” it continued.

“I’m very saddened because it’s the kids who will be hurt,” Montrose Area School District Superintendent Carol Boyce said minutes after personally receiving the resignations.

“I have spent my entire adult career as an educator working for the benefit of kids and this distresses me,” she added.

Boyce said decisions on how to handle the vacant positions would be made “in the near future.”  The positions are paid through stipends or at a set hourly rate, she said.

The union’s move was made at the end of a lengthy, heated meeting filled with shouted accusations over whether the board tried to hide the district’s receipt earlier this year of over $800,000 in reimbursements from health insurers.  Union members would like to see that money used to resolve pending contract negotiations.

For its part the board told the teachers, with an equivalent hint of anger and impatience, to stand in line behind other pressing fiscal requirements such as state-mandated pension funding, an expenditure the district cannot control and which does nothing to resolve or even delay the district’s looming fiscal crisis.

Montrose school district teachers have worked for almost two years without a contract.  The 2017-2018 school year begins Sept. 5.

Learning of the district’s April receipt of a one-time $823,699 rebate from health insurance providers, several union members repeatedly questioned Boyce and the board’s plans for the money and particularly about when the board told the public – and more importantly the union.  The rebate resulted from an overall drop in insurance claims common to numerous school district clients.

“Why wasn’t this rebate money made public when it was received?” union head Evans asked.

School board member Richard Jordan addressed the audience in an attempt to summarize the board’s position.

The Montrose School District is already facing a $600,000 annual operating budget shortfall but at the same time is also responsible for paying into a badly underfunded pension fund and a capital improvement fund all the while looking at long overdue curriculum improvements, he said. 

Jordan said that even if on a one-time basis monies from the insurance rebates – which the union says total more than $1.1 million over the past three years – were used for salary increases for teachers, they still wouldn’t solve the district’s long term problems, even with the district’s loss of teaching positions.

“The union leaders come to every meeting saying, more, more, more,” Jordan told the audience.  “We want more money.  The members of this board serve for nothing.  We don’t get paid.  We’re here to balance the needs of the students, the district as a whole, the taxpayers.  The union and their leaders are only one of the stakeholders whose interests we have to balance,” he said.

“We have reached a point where we have said, ‘No. More. Money.’ ”

Finance Committee chairman Paul Adams predicts that the operating deficit will mushroom to over $1 million in three years.

 “I tell you as the chief negotiator, a piece of that would handle the situation,” said Jack Keihl, a junior high math teacher, referring to the $800,000.

Two other issues affecting negotiations are the district’s decision to hire a director of curriculum and begin discussions on a memorandum of understanding on a new compensation package with district administrators before resolving teacher’s union demands.

MEA members filled a picket line in late March of last year after contract talks with the MASB stalled.

In late June, the school board made public on the district’s website details of its negotiations with the MEA, claiming it was offering a 3.64% jump for 2017-2018 but Evans said it only amounted to a 1.78% raise.  Before last week’s meeting the MEA took out a full page ad in a local publication highlighting similar points and asking for a compromise.

“It really disheartens me to see such negativity in a room,” parent Krista Nailor told the audience in a wavering, cracking voice.

Nailor has tenth and 12th graders at Montrose and considers many of the teachers “family” who “molded my kids into what they are in so many ways.”

Nonetheless, Nailor feels that public negotiations could help clear the air.

“You’re hearing two sides but not fully hearing all of it,” Nailor said.  “I’m not saying I’m more behind the teachers or I’m more behind the board, but I know my pocket cannot take any more of the impact.  It’s the miscommunication within the community,” she said. 

Boyce said that the board has “consistently, multiple times” asked the union to go public but that the union has repeatedly refused.  Evans denies the union has ever had a formal request and hopes it is not another “stall tactic.”  The sides plan to resume talking later this month.

At one point the Finance Committee’s Adams tried to strike a tone of conciliation.

“This divisiveness, this tenor, even the way we’re talking to each other right now, it’s getting us further and further away from any agreement,” he said.

Nailor struck a similar note.

“I don’t see that nastiness is in any way necessary.  We are all adults.  My biggest concern is the impact on my children and the talk of strike.”

Extracurricular position the union will no longer fill include:

• Class Advisors
• Homework Club, Adult Evening Classes
• Student Council, National Honor Society
• SADD, FBLA
• Yearbook, Homebound
• Peer Mediation
• Ski Club
• Department Heads
• Geocaching
• Computer Fair
• Chaperones, After School Detention, Saturday Detention
• Officials, Timers, Scorers and Ticket sellers
• Summer School

Two interested parties sent in their resumes and attended the Forest City Regional School Board meeting on August 14th for an informal interview.  Steven Ursige a Union Dale resident who has sixteen years of banking experience, and David Hopkins, who has twenty-nine years in the pharmacy sector, attended to answer any questions asked.

School Board President Mary Emmett stated the Board could appoint a Director to fill in until the next general election.  She stated the candidate must run in the November, 2017 election. So both gentlemen can run, regardless of whom they choose tonight.

Mr. Ursige and Mr. Hopkins each provided a background to the School Board and answered questions posed to them.  The School Board unanimously appointed Mr. Ursige as a member, and thanked Mr. Hopkins for his interest in serving.

The August work session was canceled, and the School Board had an executive session prior to the meeting to discuss personnel, legal and contract issues, reported President Emmett.  She stated the next work session will be on Tuesday, September 5th at 7:30 p.m. and the next school board meeting will be on Monday, September 11th at 7:30 p.m.

An agreement between FCRSD and DeHey McAndrew, the company who organizes and oversees employee benefits was unanimously approved at a cost of two thousand, five hundred seventy-five dollars.

Construction delays for the start of school would affect payroll, so a Memorandum of Understanding between the FCRSD and the Forest City Regional Education Association provided salary to be paid before the start of school.  This will in no way affect the amount or schedule of pay.

The transportation contract with J.W. Transit was unanimously approved providing pricing, driver and substitute driver information for the 2017-2018 school year.  When asked whether or not the cost had increased, Superintendent Aquilina replied the cost of this year’s transportation has decreased, due to elimination of one bus.  The extracurricular transportation contract was unanimously approved with the same company.

The Board approved the extracurricular resignations of Coach John Duffy and Coach Amanda Cino.  Extracurricular positions, which were unanimously approved, were Kelly Galinsky for Art Club, Michael Courtright for Girls Varsity Basketball, Jessica Gigliotti for Boys Junior High Soccer and Carmine Gigliotti for Boys Junior High Soccer Assistant.

Erin Alexander, a college student from the University of Scranton was unanimously approved as an intern with NHS Human Services and the District’s partial program.

Program of Study for grades seven to twelve was unanimously approved, as well as purchasing products for Applied Algebra, Digital Media, Keyboarding, Intro to Guitar, and Intro to Music.

Superintendent Aquilina stated there have been numerous occasions where students, teachers, and principals were distracted from their studies and/or duties to question whether or not a student was compliant with the dress code.  She said a review was made of the current code and compared to areas of nonconformity.  Superintendent Aquilina stated she feels there will be less confusion with the revised Dress Code.  She explained some of the changes, and the most noted “Forester Gear” is now considered acceptable attire during the school day.

Nicole Feduchak was unanimously approved as a substitute homebound instructor, and was also appointed as a Long-Term substitute at Step one salary of forty-eight thousand, five hundred fifty-six dollars for the 2017-2018 school year.

School Board Directors unanimously approved the employment agreement for Dr. Jessica Aquilina effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022.  President Emmett stated they finalized the agreement that night during the Executive Session.  She stated it was essentially the same as the last contract, with a change of a guarantee salary increase of three point five percent per year.  The previous contract did not have a guaranteed increase in salary, Superintendent Aquilina needed to review and negotiate on a yearly basis.  The contract will take effect once it’s ratified, since the changes need to be reviewed by the solicitor.

A Memorandum of Understanding was unanimously approved between FCRSD and Donna Potis effective September 8, 2017.  No further information on the MOU was provided.

The following policies were approved for review: Immunizations and Communicable Diseases, Attendance, Diabetes Management, Bullying/Cyber bulling and Food Service.

Several change orders were unanimously approved: Fire Hydrant, Area D, Music room addition for eight thousand, four hundred thirty-four dollars; Fire Hydrant Area F, Locker room, Soccer field area for fourteen thousand, one hundred thirty-five dollars; and a lite gauge metal frame and drywall enclosure to cover the overhead electrical conduit bank in the Mechanical Room B119 for five thousand, one hundred eighty six dollars.

Superintendent Aquilina thanked the Board of Directors for having the confidence in her by extending her employment at the FCRSD.  She stated there were rumors going around about the start of school, having half-day schedules, etcetera, which are not true. Superintendent Aquilina will be meeting with the primary contractor and the subcontractors to plan for the opening date of September 19th.  They will discuss how the children will enter the building, bus and traffic flow.  To answer questions, a parent meeting will be scheduled before the end of the month.

The Back to School Carnival is scheduled for Wednesday, September 13th on the soccer field, and Superintendent Aquilina stated she hopes the community comes out to enjoy this event.  There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, snacks, bounce houses, face painting and more.

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Lanesboro Council on August 8th was dismissed at 7:10 p.m. for lack of quorum.  Councilman Dale Rockwell, Council President Dan Boughton, and Mayor Chris Maby rescheduled the August meeting instead of canceling it for Tuesday, August 15th, at which time quorum was met.

Chief Jim Smith provided the Police report for the month of July, which consisted of thirteen incidents, seven traffic citations and seventeen traffic warnings for Lanesboro. There were three traffic arrests and seven traffic warnings in Thompson Borough.  He stated they have been patrolling Harmony Township and people have been happy and surprised to see them.  Council President Boughton stated people have reported seeing the Police cars in the neighborhood to him.

National Night Out was held in partnership with Susquehanna Borough, and it was a huge success reported Chief Smith.  He wanted to thank all those involved with donating and helping to make the event successful.  Ed Arzuian, Lenox Dairy Bar, Randal’s Ice Cream, Ho-mart, Susquehanna County CYS, Susquehanna County D.A.’s office, Schneider’s Market, Frito Lay, and Pump & Pantry of Montrose were all contributors in various ways to the event.

Chief Smith was very grateful to the Susquehanna School for allowing them to host the event on their campus.  He said Susquehanna and Thompson Fire and Ambulance was on hand, along with the Boy Scouts, Susquehanna County EMA, Susquehanna 911 Center, Susquehanna CYS, Susquehanna Trehab, Barnes Kasson Hospital, Susquehanna Youth for Christ Group, Commissioner Hall and Sheriff Lance Benedict.  Chief Smith said he is hopeful he didn’t miss anyone since he appreciated everyone coming out as a community for this event and he is looking forward to the involvement of the community again next year.

It was reported to Council and the Mayor the Police car was damaged when a Hinds Energy propane truck backed into it while it was parked at the HoMart.  Chief Smith stated the Chevrolet Impala sustained minor damage to the rear corner bumper and light.  He will be taking it to Ray’s Auto Repair, along with the Ford that needs a paint job.

Jonathan Fritz, PA State Representative informed Chief Smith they do not offer assistance with grant writing, but he would gladly write a letter of support for them to obtain grant money for a new Police vehicle.  PA State Representative Tom Marino said he would also send a letter of support.  Chief Smith informed Council he would obtain the name of a grant writer and contact them to help with the paperwork.

Councilman Dave Glidden stated Wayco Inc. conducted some repairs on Grand Street where the road was deeply sinking.  Council discussed for a few moments the retaining wall settling and how it was disturbing the road surface. 

It was reported PennDOT representative Ed Sumski had all the street plans, which were completed for the Community Development Block Grant.  This grant will be used to put in new sidewalks in town. Council is hoping for a quick turnaround so they can start putting the project out for bid, to be completed this year.

Amanda Cook asked where the new sidewalks would be, and Mayor Chris Maby spent a few moments informing her of the locations.  Some areas of sidewalk are ten feet long and other areas are one hundred and fifty feet stated the Mayor.

Councilman Rockwell informed Council the town fixed the bench at the park.  He said the call that was placed last month went un-returned from Harmony Township about the request to remove the brush from the side of the roads.  Chief Smith stated he saw the street crew from Harmony cutting the brush on Depot Street.

During last month's meeting the new contract from Tri Boro Municipal Authority was reviewed but there was a mistake with the dates on the contract.  The dates reflected this past year and Council motioned to approve the contract once dates were verified.  Council President Boughton verified the dates with Tri Boro who instructed them to change the dates on the contract they were signing; it was indeed the current contract.  Mayor Maby stated there is approximately a two thousand dollar increase from the last contract.

The next scheduled Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 12th at 7:00 p.m.

A new hire at the Montrose Penn State Extension office hopes to serve as a bridge between the local community and the school’s vast educational resources and widespread information base.

Bradford County native Jason Weigle has spent years studying the effects of shale gas development on communities in Pennsylvania and Canada and hopes to share his expertise with the Susquehanna County agriculture and economic community.

Jason Weigle

Overseeing community and economic development in rural areas of a six-county region including Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Lycoming, Sullivan and Wyoming Counties, Weigle says he’s not only up to the task but looking forward to the results.

“We have a lot of the services, a lot of the things that are attractive to families,” Weigle said during a recent interview at his Chenango Street office.

“We’re close to Binghamton, we’re relatively close to New York City; there’s a lot of positive things if we can just work on tackling some of the issues that not only those communities face but the rest of the counties face, you can bring people in and make Susquehanna County an attractive place to live,” he said.

Weigle, who got his Ph.D in Rural Sociology and Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment from Penn State in 2010, also holds a bachelor’s degree in soil science as well as a master’s degree in community and economic development.

Additionally, Weigle, 41, has served as a watershed specialist for the Tioga County Conservation District and a Community Liaison Officer with Shell Appalachia.  Weigle also previously worked for Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation first inspecting landfills and then cleaning up contaminated sites.

Weigle’s wife, Chandra, is the former children’s librarian for Wellsboro.  The couple have a son, Silas, 7.

“I’m still learning a lot about what’s happening, who’s doing what and what’s going on where,” Weigle said.  “It’s a pretty diverse county and diverse region.”

“Each county is different.  Each county has its own challenges and it’s finding what those are and who’s working on what and, again, taking advantage of and leveraging those assets and those resources towards addressing community issues, county issues, regional issues.”

Weigle, who began his work earlier this summer, plans to work on community connections as a way of stimulating rural economic activity.

“It’s really helping to understand what your challenges are and to find the resources to be able to address those,” he said.  “And in so, in a lot of cases, as I said, there are a lot of people working on those.  It’s really connecting people to resources that are out there: The business authorities, the planning agencies that are doing stuff.  It’s just helping them to find what’s out there.”

One issue he immediately recognized is one he’s seen before in Alaska and other places where business is conducted in sometimes rural and remote areas:  dependable internet access.

“Broadband is probably one of the key ones, the availability and the access to wired, it being either fiber optic services, or cable services, high speed internet,” he said.   “That certainly continues to be an issue in some areas.  Cellular coverage is another one, especially, a big one.  There are big gaps, not only in Susquehanna County, but across the Northern Tier.  It’s getting better; you know, people are working on it, but there’s definitely still a lot of room for improvement.” 

Another issue Weigle, a self-described “rural sociologist,” sees is the gradual change in the area’s demographics.  Simply put, the region – with the notable exception of Williamsport and its large metropolitan area -- is losing it’s young people and its younger families.  But even that continues to change, he said.

“People are moving back into rural areas because of the quality of life that they offer,” Weigle said.  “So if you can address some of those infrastructural issues, like Broadband, like internet service, and make rural towns, rural communities more attractive and reverse that, because increasingly the work force is becoming more mobile and able to work from abroad.  So if you can take advantage of that aspect as well as bringing your communities in your area up to a certain level, it becomes a marketable attribute that you can start to reach out to people and say, ‘Hey, we have . . .’ “

Besides advice and help with planning and preparations, Penn State Extension also offers, among other things, four-day courses focusing on the agricultural and economic aspects of life in rural communities.  Available courses include “Farm$en$e,” which focuses on helping farmers with financial management and bookkeeping, and “Exploring the Small Farm Dream” which is designed to help nascent farmers get their ideas off the ground and running.

Other courses offered include “Food For Profit,” which helps prepare people who are interested in starting a farm food product and “First Impressions” which helps communities and other business entities self-assess their economic and commercial appeal by sharing the results of first person visits made by people from other communities.

Penn State Extension also offers workshops on grant writing, board development and leadership development, he said.

“What I can offer to the average farmer is to be a resource,” Weigle said.

Weigle said that areas where his office can help include finances, budgeting, product diversification and market identification and creation.

 “I may not be the one who could do it, but I have 34 or 35 other colleagues throughout the state who are doing similar things.  We can connect them to whatever resources that they may need.  If we can’t answer it, find someone who can.”

The major concerns of most rural municipalities seem to focus around water: if there’s not enough, then the dust is bothersome.  If there’s too much, as has been the case this summer in Northeastern Pennsylvania, then the question is what to do with it all.  For property owners around the small lakes in our area, the issue is often water quality.  So it is at Page Lake, where residents have been wanting a sewer system for many years, since their petitions to be added to the Hallstead-Great Bend Joint Sewer Authority were denied years ago.

At the New Milford Township Supervisors’ meeting on August 16 a representative of the Page(s) Lake association appealed once more for help in finding a solution.  Most of the on-lot sewage systems around the lake are at least 50-60 years old and residents are concerned for their own health as well as the health of the lake.  The township has some ordinances covering sewage, but no “sewage code,” a general matter that is usually handled at the state level.  The Supervisors seemed reluctant to get involved in the issue, considering the potential financial and liability questions.  They recommended that lake residents consult with the New Milford Municipal Authority, which has a relationship with the Joint Sewer Authority.

The only other option for lake residents would seem to be to create their own sewage system, but they claim that there is nowhere to discharge the effluent from a sewage plant at the shallow lake.

Ironically, Brett Jennings of Great Bend, Chair of the Joint Sewer Authority, attended the meeting to recommend that New Milford Township, whose north end is served by the sewer system, review its documents to bring them up to date with changes in Act 160, the “Underground Utility Line Protection Law” that was amended last year.  He had nothing to say about the Page Lake petition.

In other business, the Supervisors reviewed paperwork from Southwestern Energy and Susquehanna Gathering related to natural gas development operations on Highlands Road and near the compressor station on Sutton Road.  While the township has no authority to approve or deny drilling permits or permit applications for the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Supervisors did detect some irregularities that they would like to have clarified.

The Supervisors also reviewed a “National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System” (NPDES) permit application from RHL for a project in the Gibson area.  As a federal requirement, the NPDES permit is not subject to township responsibility, and the Supervisors were not certain about the nature of the project.

Emergency Management Coordinator Ken Bondurant offered “kudos to the road crew” for managing the runoff from the heavy rainfall this season.  He also reported that county emergency management plans are in the process of being updated as required at 5-year intervals.

A township resident brought some photographs claiming that the township has some responsibility for water damage in his area.  Supervisor and Roadmaster Jack Conroy disputed his evaluation of the situation, but said, “I’ll work with you any way that I can, but I want to be fair to the other residents.”

Financial reports for July and August show that the township received $672,691.09 from the Act 13 “impact fees” in July.  For July and August together, the township spent a total of $304,635.54, of which $175,329.88 was for “Material & Other Operating Supplies.”

The New Milford Township Supervisors meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month beginning at 7:30pm at the township offices on U.S. Route 11 north of the borough.

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Oakland Borough Council on August 10th was dismissed due to lack of quorum and rescheduled to the following Thursday.  On August 17th all Council members and Mayor Ron Beavan were in attendance.  Council President Brian Rhone opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for the tragedies in Charlottesville and Barcelona.

Council members discussed for a few moments sight issues at the intersection of Route 92 and State Route 1023.  Patrons of the Oakland Corner Pub are parking curbside, close to the intersection and it is making it hard for drivers to have a good visual of traffic driving on Rt. 92.  Council stated it’s difficult to see from both roads while at the stop sign, but especially Rt. 92.  Talk of eliminating parking in the front of the bar, and having a space designated as a loading zone were some of the ideas.  Council will research parking regulations, then determine what they will do to alleviate the current situation.

A great deal of time was taken up at the meeting regarding a resident who continually violates the Ordinance by having more than one unregistered vehicle parked on their property.  Surrounding neighbors are disgusted with the look of the property and the lack of response from Borough Council.  Councilman Dibble said he feels Council should address this issue even though the process is costly, and the legal system is somewhat broken.  He said it's not fair for the neighboring residents and Council approved to move forward with the process. 

Another time consuming topic was the issue of streets that have been abandoned in the Borough and what residents are doing to claim additional property.  After several minutes, Council had decided they will be requesting the Borough’s Solicitor, Myron DeWitt to attend the next meeting, which will be held on September 14th. They have several questions they need to have answered and Attorney DeWitt needs to address Council as a whole on their concerns.

Code Enforcement Officer Shane Lewis was not in attendance but provided the Codes Report for Council and the Mayor. In the report he stated the properties slated for demolition are currently in extension status since the work is not finished, but the homeowners are in the demolition process.  Council members stated they are satisfied with the work in progress.

There have been reports of people illegally burning garbage, and Mayor Beavan stated as long as it is permissible to burn paper some people will bend the rules.  Councilman Dave Diddle stated to ban burning would punish the whole town instead of just the few people who burn illegal products.  Those residents who are burning products other than paper should be issued a citation, stated Council members.

The monthly Police report stated there were five traffic stops, two criminal trespasses, one vandalism, one theft, three miscellaneous investigations and one assist in service.  A total of thirteen incidents for July were reported.

It was reported by Mayor Beavan that the air conditioner in the Ford Police vehicle is in need of repair.  A quote of five hundred dollars was given to fix the car. He said Chief Sweet informed him the front clutch is the problem and he would be able to fix it himself for around fifty dollars.

A phone card was unanimously approved for the tax collector to use when returning long distance phone calls from residents and others requesting tax information.

Mayor Beavan said a problem was brought to his attention regarding dirt washing down to the rear entrance of the building, winding up outside the door. The angle of the slope may be what is causing the problem and he suggests Council take a look at it.

Councilman Doug Arthur stated a momma bear and three cubs were spotted in Oakland on Sunday.  Mayor Beavan said the Game Commission came and removed a mamma and three cubs a few weeks ago; they probably came back.