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The president of the state’s largest teachers union announced Wednesday that local union leaders will be encouraged to consider accepting a one-year pay freeze recommended by Gov. Tom Corbett, and local superintendents are testing the waters.

In some cases, though, teachers are already under a freeze as new contracts are negotiated.

In a press release issued Wednesday, Pennsylvania State Education Association President James Testerman offered cautious support for the pay freeze recommended by Corbett March 8, when he unveiled a state budget proposal that slashes hundreds of millions from public school spending.

“As part of his budget proposal, the governor requested that education employees accept a one-year pay freeze,” Testerman said in the press release. “I encourage PSEA members to seriously consider this request.”

PSEA is the parent organization for 10 of the 11 teacher unions in Luzerne County’s school districts.

Pittston Area teachers belong to the American Federation of Teachers.

Corbett’s proposal last week was greeted with skepticism by some local school administrators, who pointed out each union would have to agree to reopen its contract and negotiate a freeze – a daunting prospect in years past.

Threat of layoffs

But unions now face the threat of massive cuts in state funding and a move in the Legislature to change the law so districts can lay off teachers for economic reasons – currently they can do so only if they experience sharp enrollment declines or major changes in educational programming.

Testerman said PSEA hopes to prevent the massive cuts, “but we also realize that tough economic times have hit many of our public school districts.

“Today I sent a letter to the presidents of all PSEA locals,” Testerman continued. “I encouraged them to enter into discussions with their school boards about a pay freeze or other cost-saving measures to maintain class size and academic programs.”

Northwest Area Superintendent Nancy Tkatch expressed surprise upon hearing about Testerman’s statements.

Northwest struggled for nearly four years to hammer out its current contract signed in 2009, which expires this August, and the two sides are only beginning new negotiations.

“I think it’s a give-and-take approach,” Tkatch said of the possibility of a pay freeze, noting that it’s too early to be sure exactly what the final state budget will be as the Legislature mulls Corbett’s proposal.

But with such radical changes in state funding looming, she added, a freeze could be a good idea for both sides.

“We could let the dust settle, and give the districts an opportunity to get a handle on this new budget.”

Tkatch said she would be willing to take a pay freeze, but it would be in a new job. The School Board has decided not to renew her contract, and she has already landed a job as administrative director at West Side Career and Technical Center.

Wyoming Valley West Superintendent Chuck Suppon said he would also be willing to take a pay freeze, but noted that unions for both the teachers and support staff – which includes secretaries, custodians and aids – are negotiating new contracts.

The old contracts expired last August, and staff are operating under the terms of those expired contracts, which means that they already are technically working under a pay freeze, Suppon said.

While a freeze is among the items on the table, Suppon said he could not comment further because talks have been tense.

“We’re a lot closer than we’ve been at any point during the negotiations,” he added.

Final budget needed

Greater Nanticoke Area Superintendent Tony Perrone said the idea of a freeze has been discussed with the union, but that it’s too early for either side to make a commitment without knowing what the final budget will really call for. He also noted a series of bills are expected to be unveiled by the senate education committee designed to ease state mandates and make it easier for districts to save money.

Even so, Perrone said he believes the state spending cuts are so steep that a one-year freeze would be almost insignificant by comparison for Greater Nanticoke Area.

A freeze on Perrone’s pay is a moot suggestion. After having turned around a district on the brink of financial collapse, he officially retired in 2003 but stayed on without pay, a fact he prefers to downplay.

Lake-Lehman Superintendent Jim McGovern said he is taking a pay freeze but the School Board has not discussed the idea of asking the teachers to do so as well. The Pittston Area board agreed at Tuesday’s public meeting to meet with teacher representatives and administrators to discuss the idea.

In an e-mail response to questions, Crestwood Superintendent Dave McLaughlin-Smith said the district administration is looking at all options to save money in response to Corbett’s proposals, but that “I have not shared any recommendations with our board.”

Dallas Superintendent Frank Galicki also said the idea of a freeze was under discussion, but noted the teacher contract expired last year and is under negotiations.

Contract negotiations are also going on at Wyoming Area and at the Luzerne Intermediate Unit, an agency that provides a variety of services – primarily special education – to area districts.

But unions now face the threat of massive cuts in state funding and a move in the legislature to change the law so districts can lay off teachers for economic reasons – currently they can do so only if they experience sharp enrollment declines or major changes in educational programming.