Friday, April 29th, 2011

No pay increase for teachers

By Betty Lawrence
COLDWATER - School board members this morning unanimously approved a three-year contract with the Coldwater Teachers Organization that freezes salaries - including step pay increases - for two years. The contract will be reopened for new negotiations during the third year.
"The reopening is for salaries and insurance only," treasurer Sherry Shaffer said this morning. "That third year occurs at the beginning of the next state biennium budget, and at that time, there will be a better understanding of what the new biennium will be."
Teachers can receive both a base salary increase and step pay increase, which is based on education and experience. Under the new contract, which goes into effect July 1, teachers will not see either of these increases for two years.
Coldwater Teachers Organization President Dan Pohlman said the union was pleased with the smoothness of the negotiation process.
The union is "very happy to have a secure contract in these hard economic times," he said. "Just like the board, we too want to give our kids the best education possible and everyone is willing to do their part to make that happen. There was a lot of good communication between all parties, and we're very thankful for that."
The contract also reconfigures the salary schedule to reduce the first three years' salaries on the schedule and eliminate the mid-step between bachelor's degree and master's degree.
"This just better plans the first three years of salary for anyone new coming in," Shaffer said. "One column was not designated by a particular degree, so this was eliminated, meaning someone with a bachelor's degree has to get a master's degree to move up."
Other contract highlights include a switch from the comprehensive PPO health insurance plan to an alternative PPO plan that includes a deductible and higher employee shares on co-pays. The employee share of premiums would increase 10 percent in the first year and 12 1/2 percent the second year.
The contract calls for establishment of a labor relations committee to deal with employee concerns. The committee is an old idea that was reborn, Shaffer said.
"It was never implemented in our last contact and the intent at this time is to have the committee meet monthly, or as needed, to help keep the lines of communications open," she said.
Serving on the committee will be the superintendent, treasurer, a designee, the teachers union president and two other teachers.
The committee can expect to undergo formal labor-liaison training in August.
The past teachers' contract was for two years, July 1, 2009, to July 1, 2011. It included a zero percent raise the first year and 1.25 percent the second.
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ST. MARYS - The Celina baseball team rallied from a four-run deficit and then got a defensive gem for the final out as the Bulldogs escaped K.C. Geiger Park with a 7-6 win over rival St. Marys on a rainy Thursday in Western Buckeye League action. [More]
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Eliminating holiday pay, reducing office hours and sharing employees are a few of the ideas being kicked around to save the county money.
Mercer Co
May Primary
ST. MARYS - Two newcomers to politics are running on the Republican ticket for the 1st Ward council seat at Tuesday's primary election.
John Bubp a
May Primary
Mercer County residents on Tuesday will be asked to renew a six-year, 2.42-mill levy to support programs for local residents who are mentally and physically challenged.
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ST. HENRY - Voters in the St. Henry school district will be asked Tuesday to approve a continuous, 1.21-mill permanent improvement replacement levy.
If approved, the levy would replace the current five-year, 1.21-mill levy, which was approved by voters in 2006 and expires in December.
Three-year grant sought to add officer
The Mercer County Sheriff's Office is seeking a federal grant that would add another officer to the department.
The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grant would pay 100 percent of a new, full-time entry-level patrol officer's salary and benefits - approximately $58,800 per year - for a three-year period.
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About 50 theological scholars labored seven years to produce in 1611 the most popular book ever printed - the King James Version of the Holy Bible. That original translation celebrates its 400th anniversary this year.
NEW BREMEN - The New Bremen Cardinals stayed tied at the top of the Midwest Athletic Conference softball standings after defeating the Marion Local Flyers, 9-8 in a wild contest that featured an hour delay in the top of the fifth due to lightning on Thursday afternoon at New Bremen High School.
Local Roundup
Compiled by Ryan Hines
and Gary R. Rasberry
Celina spotted Versailles a trio of first-inning runs and then shut down the Tigers the rest of the way to win a 10-3 battle in Darke County.   The Bulldogs (9-5) committed three errors in the first inning and all three Tigers' runs were unearned.
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Last Curtain Call
I asked a handful of former Coldwater baseball players if they were to field a Cavalier alumni baseball team which featured the all-time greatest players that the storied program had ever produced, who their first pick would be.
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