A resolution in the labor dispute between Clarion-Limestone teachers and the C-L school district appears to be closer.
Clarion-Limestone Area Education Association president Andrea Deible said at Wednesday’s C-L school board meeting that “things have been moving along very well with the negotiations. We hope by the end of the week to have signed off on some things that we will be taking back to our membership next week.”
C-L teachers have been working without a contract since the end of June. C-L teachers, through their career earnings, rank sixth out of seven school districts in Clarion County.
Superintendent Amy Glasl explained that currently a student may chose any cyber school and the district must pay the fee for that school. The change in the law would stipulate that if a school district has its own cyber school the student would be offered placement in that program.
But if the student elected to enroll in a different cyber school, then the student’s parents would pay the enrollment fee and not the home school district.
C-L has its own cyber school, and the change in the law could save C-L about $100,000 annually.
The board approved the purchase of a walk-in cooler/freezer, a mobile heated cabinet and an electric oven that will allow the food service department to begin preparing hot meals at the elementary school. All meals are now prepared at the high school and transported to the elementary school.
The total cost of the items was $40,382.
School board member Mike Meals gave a progress report on the co-op agreement with C-L, Clarion Area and North Clarion for football.
Meals also said there may be two homecoming games this year – one at C-L and one at Clarion.
The board approved the implementation of the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit student information system for the 2019-20 school year.
School board president Molly Greenawalt said the board would clarify the reasons for executive sessions in the future.
Executive sessions may be held for specific reasons including personnel, real estate acquisitions and legal issues.
The reason for an executive session must be given prior to the closed-door session.