GNA OKs teacher pact, budget with hike

NANTICOKE – The Greater Area Nanticoke School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to accept a new teachers contract that will run through August 2010.

Board President Jeff Kozlofski thanked the union and district team lead negotiator and board member Bob Raineri for the amount of time and effort they put into reaching the agreement.

Kozlofski said the contract is a good one “on both ends,” for the district and the teachers.

Raineri said the contract provides an approximate average 3 percent salary increase for 2008 that will be applied retroactive to April 17 of this year.

He emphasized the actual contract has not been signed by the teachers as of meeting time because some minor details were being finalized. He expects the formal signature to happen in the next few days.

Raineri said the negotiations took place over three years and were tough at times.

No teachers representatives were available for comment. Raineri said, in his opinion, they are happy with the final contract.

In other business, the board voted for a six-mill tax increase for fiscal year 2008-2009. According to district business manager Albert Melone, the tax increase will be minimal.

On average, homeowners will pay approximately $25 more each year, Melone said. The increase brings district tax rate to 255 mills. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value.

Originally, a nine-mill increased was planned, but the increase was lowered during the meeting because the district received notice of a $250,000 state grant, Melone said.

In another matter, Superintendent Tony Perrone said the district is seriously considering a dress code. Only in the discussion phase at this point, the code will mirror the Wyoming Valley West’s code, Perrone said.

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