'Resolving Conflict' seminar planned

MOUNT CARMEL - A "Resolving Conflict" seminar will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Hope Community Church, 551 W. Fourth St.

The seminar will explore topics such as when to overlook an offense, the root cause of conflict, what makes a good apology, what forgiveness really means and how to deal with difficult people.

The seminar will advise participants how, with God's help, they can forever change conflict in their lives and equip them to help others get through their conflicts. It will explore what the Bible has to say about conflict and relationships.

Registration is preferred. To register, contact Pastor Dan Renno at 339-2906 or pastordan@hopeccpan.com.

Meeting changed to original date

EAST CAMERON TOWNSHIP - The East Cameron Township Board of Supervisors will hold its board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 7, as originally scheduled. An item in Wednesday's Noteworthy reported the board changed the date of the meeting, but it has been changed back.

Vision clinic planned

SHAMOKIN - A low-cost vision clinic will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at CSO Inc. offices, Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, 2 E. Arch St.

A second clinic will be held at Sunbury CareerLink, 225 Market St., from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Glasses will be available for as low as $36 for individuals who meet income requirements.

Appointments are required. Call 1-800-901-1912 for details.

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Department of Health is extending the grace period by two weeks for parents to comply with new school immunization requirements. The new rules went into effect last August and if students don't have the required immunizations, they may not be able to attend school.

Families were given an eight-month provisional period when the school year began to get their school-aged children up to date with their vaccinations. Without this extension, the grace period would have to come to an end in most areas next week.

"We have received reports for some school districts that students had still not received the required vaccines," said Dr. Eli N. Avila, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. "While we cannot stress enough the importance of getting vaccinated, we hope the extension will allow additional time to ensure no students are excluded from classes."

The new regulations require children in all grades to receive a second dose of mumps vaccine as well as a second dose of the chicken pox vaccine. They also require students in seventh grade to have one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) and one dose of tetanus, diptheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). The vaccines need to be appropriately spaced apart to be considered valid.

To help parents and caregivers meet the deadline, the Department of Health held free immunization clinics during the week of April 9. More than 2,300 people were vaccinated and more than 5,000 vaccines provided. The department established the new regulations, but enforcement is up to individual school districts. School districts maintain the right to exclude students from school who do not have the proper vaccinations. They can also allow students who can prove they have an appointment prior to the extended deadline to remain in school. The department had been working closely with school districts to provide information and encourage physicians and healthcare providers to assist in getting students vaccinated before the deadline.

"Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease," said Avila. "We need to ensure our students are safeguarded against disease."

Parents of students who are not up to date with their vaccinations should make an appointment with their local healthcare provider, or call 877-PA HEALTH (877-724-3258) to be connected with their local state health center. The most recent copy of the student's vaccination history must be provided at the time of the appointment. Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Exemptions are allowed by law for medical reasons verified by a healthcare professional, on religious grounds or on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief. However, the student's parents must fill out a statement for exemption and provide it to the student's school.

To review the regulations, visit www.health.state.pa.us/immunizations. The regulation were developed upon recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

SHAMOKIN - A Coal Township man was charged with simple assault and related offenses after the investigation into a March 17 attack outside a local bar and restaurant.

Sean J. Harris, 25, of 919 W. Walnut St., Coal Township, has been charged by Patrolman Nathan Rhodes with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct involving a March 17 assault of Jason Lichty, of Coal Township, outside Rob's Good Time Grille at Market and Spruce streets.

According to a criminal complaint, Harris is accused of assaulting Lichty at about 2 a.m. The victim, who suffered serious injuries to his nose, head and arms, told police he was attacked from behind and hit by what felt like a blunt object, causing him to fall to the ground. He also recalled being kicked in the face, police said.

Lichty was transported to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was treated and released for his injuries.

Harris told police Lichty punched him in the face before he pushed Lichty in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. Harris admitted leaving the scene after Lichty hit the ground hard.

5 assaults, 1 day

The assault was one of five such crimes in the area that day, but Harris is only the second person to be charged in the assaults. Others occurred in the area of Spruce and Coal streets, and the 600 block of North Shamokin Street, where Jason McCormick, of Tharptown, suffered injuries.

Police continue to investigate a disturbance later that day at the Second Chance Bar and Grill, 1101 W. Pine St.

Another arrest was made in the rash of assaults when Jarred Derck, 28, of Trevorton, was charged by Coal Township police after allegedly using obscene language and threatening Thomas Rosini, 61, with an aluminum baseball bat outside Rosini's residence on West Pine Street. During his preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Derck pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment and sentenced to six months of supervised probation.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Creating an atmosphere that encourages pride and investment will help alleviate blight in Northumberland County.

That was the main point expressed Friday by local, county and state officials during the initial meeting of the Northumberland County Blight Task Force at Northumberland County Career and Technology Center.

The two-hour session coordinated by Northumberland County Housing Authority Executive Director Edward Christiano featured a presentation by consultant Christopher Gulotta, of The Gulotta Group, Carlisle, who has vast experience in dealing with blight and revitalization.

The meeting also included input from about a dozen officials involved in developing a comprehensive plan for implementing effective strategies to fight blight, which has become prevalent throughout the county, particularly in the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area.

Securing funding, identifying blighted properties, enforcing code violations, getting citizens to work together with their municipal leaders and screening landlords who purchase properties at tax sales were some of the recommendations made in the ongoing effort to attack blight.

"We must differentiate ourselves from other applicants seeking funding," Gulotta said. "Blight has the opposite effect of creating an atmosphere that encourages pride and investment. Eventually, if blight is alleviated or eliminated, communities will see job creation and hopefully it will become contagious."

Commissioner Steve Bridy stressed the need for funding from the private and public sectors, including banking institutions.

"This is a much-needed program that is overdue," he said. "In addition to blighted structures, there is also environmental blight like pollution in streams."

State Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107), who commended Coal Township officials for taking aggressive action against blighted property owners, said blight ranks up with jobs as among his priorities.

"Blight is a cancer in our communities and is spreading throughout neighborhoods," he said.

County Commissioner Rick Shoch said he is encouraged by the interest in developing the blight task force and believes it's important to gather as many resources as possible to fight the problem.

County Commissioner Vinny Clausi agreed blight is a serious issue and voiced his disappointment over the absence of any Shamokin or Mount Carmel official at the meeting.

Work together

Christiano, who spearheaded the formation of the countywide task force with a goal of reducing the number of blighted properties in half within five years, said it's important to work together to secure state and local funding to demolish or rehabilitate properties. He believes Northumberland County is the best "lead" agency for that endeavor.

"I'd like to see all 36 municipalities in the county implement the same type of ordinance regarding blight," he said. He encouraged more people to report blighted properties.

Gulotta said redevelopment authorities play a crucial role in securing funding to fight blight, and that prevention is key.

"For every four or five blighted properties removed, there are six or seven added to the list," he said.

Jamie Shrawder, project coordinator for SEDA-COG, Lewisburg, discussed some successful projects involving the removal of blighted properties in Sunbury where the redevelopment authority has been instrumental in securing funding to raze dilapidated houses.

Marie A. Culp, president and chief executive officer for Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, Milton, said some municipalities don't want to admit they have a blight problem.

As for the causes of blight, officials cited aging populations, cheap housing, "slumlords" and lack of self and community pride. They also cited a lack of planning, the drawn-out tax sale process, locating absentee property owners and lack of resources among homeowners, particularly the elderly.

Coal Township Manager Rob Slaby discussed steps the township commissioners have taken to alleviate blight, illegal dumping, junk vehicles and high grass.

Last year, the commissioners instituted a "Wall of Shame" in an effort to embarrass blighted property owners by having their names and properties appear in the local newspaper. The names and telephone numbers of the property owners, if available, also are attached to the properties so neighbors can read them.

Slaby said the "Wall of Shame" hasn't been real effective. "It's not working out that well because most of these people are unembarrassable," he said.

But he noted a recent move by the commissioners to approve an ordinance designed to streamline the process to punish violators of nuisance ordinances, while keeping revenues from fines solely in township coffers, has proven quite successful.

"We've ticketed 67 people in three weeks," Slaby said. "That's a good response."

He said the township will receive $127,727 this year in community development block grant funding, which has decreased over the past two years. He said the township has used between $70,000 and $80,000 of the funding every two years to fight blight. He noted eight blighted properties have been razed every two years over a 10-year period.

Slaby said the balance of the community development block grant funding is used for streets, administration and the homeowner occupied rehabilitation program coordinated through the county housing authority.

Pat Mack, planning director for Northumberland County, said the county will receive $272,589 in community development block grant money this year and has allocated approximately $60,000 to remove blighted structures. He said the balance of the money is used for water and sewer projects.

Old to new

The task force will review new and amended state laws strengthening a municipality's hand in acquiring blighted properties, as well as penalizing landlords and property owners who allow properties to fall into disrepair.

If a property is acquired, it could be upgraded and turned into residential housing, perhaps for low-income residents or senior citizens. It could also be razed and the land marketed for development or turned into a public park.

The county planning department will be tasked to create a database of blighted properties to assist developers and local officials in target areas for redevelopment and revitalization funding.

Also in attendance Friday were Todd Roup, chief of staff for state Sen. John Gordner (R-27); Harold Hurst from Masser's office; David Osevala, a staff member from state Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver's office; Sandy Winhofer, executive director of the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce; Charlie Ross, an official with the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, Shamokin Dam; James Monaghan, administrative director at Northumberland County Career and Technology Center, and Charles Mannello, financial consultant.

The next task force meeting will be held at 11 a.m. May 31 at Northumberland County Administration Center in Sunbury.

ELYSBURG - Some things are new at Knoebels Amusement Resort for its 86th season. and some things will simply look new.

The popular park celebrated nationally for its rides, food and hospitality opens today for a month of weekend-only operation, then stays open every day for the summer season starting May 23.

Joe Muscato, director of public relations, said most of the work done during the off-season was to clean up from the Flood of 2011 which closed the park for 10 days after raging flood waters damaged rides, infrastructure and buildings.

"After we opened up following the flood, one of the biggest attractions at the park wasn't a ride or food stand," Muscato said. Instead, it was the sign that indicates past flood levels - a new marking for "2011" just inches below the one from 1972.

Knoebels' effort to battle back from that devastation is exemplified in many ways, but in particular with the return to glory of the Stein and Goldstein small carousel ride, among those most heavily damaged.

"That carousel was completely trashed," Muscato said.

He said longtime park employee Dave Wynn, who is also the curator for the carousel museum, and his son, Matt, worked very hard over the winter months to restore it.

"It looks so beautiful," Muscato said.

The Wynns also found some old artwork involving the Stein and Goldstein horses that they have used on the restored ride, which is believed to be 100 years old

According to the Knoebels website, The two-abreast carousel in Kiddieland was carved by the firm of Stein and Goldstein. From their shop in Brooklyn, these two men carved carousel figures from 1912 to 1918. This merry-go-round was once owned by Lawrence Knoebel, one of Henry's sons. Lawrence took the machine to fairs and carnivals during the 1940s. It was sold in the early 1950s and changed owners several times. It was repurchased by Knoebels in 1975, and completely restored and returned to the park in 1976 for Knoebels' 50th year of operation.

"The organs around the park suffered a lot of flood damage, too, but we restored them to retain that beautiful nostalgic experience," Muscato said.

He said Knoebels will be ready for its June 9 organ festival.

Black Diamond 'tweaks'

This marks the first full season that the Black Diamond will be operational. The three-story "dark ride" simulates a trip through a haunted coal mine.

"We opened it last October and it was good, but we took some feedback from riders and tweaked it a little," Muscato said. "It was a good ride before, but is an even better ride now."

Other notable work took place at Knoebels Lake Glory Campground a few miles from the park near Catawissa. A new office/camp store/game room has been constructed.

Until daily operation, the park is open from noon until "closing" Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information, visit www.knoebels.com.

SHAMOKIN - The News-Item has won three awards in the 2012 Keystone Press Awards contest.

The annual contest, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation, this year attracted nearly 4,300 entries from 145 PNA newspapers. There were 29 categories across seven circulation divisions.

The News-Item, competing in Division IV (daily and Sunday newspapers under 20,000 circulation), won a first, second and honorable mention as follows:

- Staff writer Justin Strawser won first place in the column category, where participants enter three columns that were published in 2011. Strawser's pieces were headlined "Confessions of a first-time polar bear," "Reporter finds world troubled by bath salts" and "The Shopping Dead," the latter about his trip to local stores on Black Friday.

- All news department staff members were entered as contestants in The News-Item's submission for the ongoing news coverage category, in which newspapers can submit up to six editions of coverage of a particular topic. The News-Item entered its coverage for the Flood of 2011, for which every single person in the operation played a role, be it through producing stories or photos or creating page after page of flood coverage. While only six editions could be submitted, The News-Item had front-page flood coverage for 17 straight editions, nearly every one with multiple stories and photos.

- Julie Nicolov, an assistant editor, won an honorable mention in the headline category. Her three entries included, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock," about a congregation that was locked out of its church; "Rain, rain, go away … seriously," with a story on one of the early days of September's flooding, and "From pageant to pavement" about a beauty pageant winner spending her summer flagging for PennDOT at road construction sites.

Winners will be honored at the Keystone Press Awards Banquet during the Pennsylvania Press Conference on June 2 at the Wyndham Gettysburg.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Motorcycle riders and others are gearing up for the 11th annual Big House Benefit Run set for Saturday, May 7, rain or shine.

The ride, which primarily involves motorcycles but is open to any kind of vehicle, is organized by C.O.A.L. (Corrections Officers Assistance League) at State Correctional Institution-Coal Township. Proceeds benefit correctional officers who have suffered hardships and are not receiving any income.

Riders leave SCI-Coal Township at 10 a.m. to embark on an 80-mile tour of central Pennsylvania. A poker run sign-up, 50/50 and raffle tickets will be available at the registration table, which opens at 8:45 a.m. the day of the ride.

The registration fee of $20, payable in advance, guarantees an event T-shirt. On-site registration is $22, with no guarantee of a shirt. A pork BBQ lunch will be held at the end of the run, along with raffles and 50/50 drawings. Donations for the raffles come from local businesses donating various items such as gift certificates, cash, tools, baskets of beauty items and other services.

To register or for information, or to make a donation, contact the group by e-mail at BHBRevent@hotmail.com.

The event started in early 2000 when two employees at SCI-Coal Township were stricken with illness. Due to their lengthy recoveries, they depleted all their earned leave time. A few employees got together and formed C.O.A.L. In less than three months, a motorcycle ride, as well as donations, food, a poker run and other fundraising efforts had been organized.

Since then, C.O.A.L. has helped more than 25 staff members at SCI-Coal Township. This year, a portion of the money raised will be given to the mother of Sgt. Matt Persing, a corrections officer at the prison who passed away on Jan. 12 in an auto accident on Route 61, Paxinos.

The event, which has the blessing of the prison superintendent, is held the Saturday following Corrections Employee Week.

Signs will be posted along Route 61 in the greater Shamokin area the day of the event to direct participants to SCI-Coal Township.

Marriages

Michael David Heffin, of 1103 N. Pearl St., Shamokin, to Amanda Lynn Schaffner, of 9 Raspberry Hill, Shamokin. Issued April 19, 2012.

Walter A. Paczkoskie to Crystal Lynn Hatzel, both of 1042 W. Shamokin St., Trevorton. Issued April 19, 2012.

George Thomas Brady to Anita Jeanette Christian, both of 924 Chestnut St., Kulpmont. Issued April 20, 2012.

Cody R. Miller to Jessica I. Galgocy, both of 1709 Pulaski Ave., Coal Township. Issued April 20, 2012.

Joshua J. Lynn, of 1645 Mohawk St., Coal Township, to Kelly Marie Bordell, of 1101 Nelson St., Coal Township. Issued April 21, 2012.

Michael C. Mackey to Heidi Lynn Weller, both of 161 Red Bud Lane, Paxinos. Issued April 23, 2012.

Steven Christopher Paul to Tammy Lee Bieber, both of 1201 Hofflander Road, Herndon. Issued April 23, 2012.

Thomas M. Hawkins to Lauren E. Janusewski, both of 1302 Scott St., Kulpmont. Issued April 28, 2012.

John Pauluklnas to Diane Louise Alderson, both of 6 E. Lincoln St., Shamokin. Issued April 26, 2012.

Joshua S. Kleha, of 1111 N. Franklin St., Shamokin, to Kylee Ann Raybuck, of 1449 Poplar St., Kulpmont. Issued April 28, 2012.

Divorces

Theresa Ann Moore, 29 S. Peach St., Mount Carmel, from Hilton David Moore, 350 S. Chestnut St., Mount Carmel. Married April 11, 2003.

Dawn M. Zettlemoyer, P.O. Box 42, Pottsgrove, from James R. Zettlemoyer, 345 Broadway, Milton. Married July 4, 1992.

Jason P. Laidacker, 191 Chillisquaque St., Montandon, from Tara I. Laidacker, 1536 Dubois Hollow Road, Trout Run. Married Sept. 9, 2007.

John Paulukinas, 65 E. Lincoln St., Shamokin, from Dustine Paulukinas, 25 N. Coolidge Ave., Margate, N.J. Married Oct. 5, 2002.

Lorri A. Perkins, 485 Duke St., Northumberland, from Gary G. Perkins, 200 11th St., Riverside. Married Sept. 7, 1985.

Debra Newcomb, 341 Chestnut St., Sunbury, from Sean Newcomb, 11 Laudermilk Road, Halifax. Married Oct. 31, 2009.

Property transfers

Kevin A. Zimmerman, Kathy McBryan and Kathy Zimmerman to Kevin A. Zimmerman and Kathy A. Zimmerman, property in Coal Township, $1.

Mark A. Boyce and Carol J. Boyce to Kenneth M. Zarko, property in Ralpho Township, $142,000.

Thomas A. Wislotsky and Jacqueline Wislotsky to Andrew Wislotsky and Andrea Wislotsky, property in Kulpmont, $1.

Ronald Duda and Joan Duda to Maria E. Kelchner and Janel M. Stahlnecker, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

Sharon Mallett (trustee) and the Donald Homiak Revocable Living Trust to Dean Smeal and Diana Smeal, property in Coal Township, $1.

Samuel J. Schiccatano and Kathleen L. Schiccatano to T&D 415 Spurzheim Street LLC, property in Shamokin, $7,750.

Jack L. Saxton (trustee) and the Dolores M. Saxton Revocable Trust to Kevin J. Balascik and Keri L. Balascik, property in Upper Augusta Township, $120,000.

Travis A. Bremigen and Debbie K. Bremigen to Michelle Moser, property in Mount Carmel Township, $89,500.

Christopher J. Seiler and Jamie L. Seiler to Christopher J. Seiler and Jamie L. Seiler, property in Shamokin Township, $1.

Mary Ellen Karycki (executrix) and the George R. Quinn estate to Edward Charles Quinn, Mary Ellen Karycki and Margaret Williams, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

Leslie S. Lenig (WAT) and Leslie S. Sprenkel to Leslie S. Lenig, property in Coal Township, $1.

Steven P. Clapper to Raffeys 21 LLC, property in Herndon, $15,000.

Chervanik Realty Company (by trustee), Charles Robert Williams (trustee and individually) and Barbara Chervanik to JDB Miller Real Estate LLC, property in Coal Township, $90,000.

James Patrick Halloran III and Hawley J. Halloran to JP Realty Enterprises LLC, property in Mount Carmel, $24,000.

Michael A. Catino, to JP Realty Enterprises LLC, property in Mount Carmel Township, $11,000.

Linda D. Derck and George R. Derck to George R. Derck and Cathy A. Derck, property in West Cameron Township, $1.

Steven Beckno estate and Steven B. Beckno (executor) to William Adams, property in Mount Carmel, $15,000.

L. Dale Albright aka L. Dale Albright and Louise C. Albright to L. Dale Albright and Louise C. Albright, property in Kulpmont, $1.

Marguerite Ginck to David A. Kashner Jr., property in Shamokin Township, $18,000.

Noteworthy

Streets to be milled

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Coal Township Street Department will mill large sections of the following streets beginning Monday, and running through May 11, in preparation for paving. Residents are asked to abide by all parking and work zone signs as posted.

The streets are as follows: Tioga Street from Route 901 to Hess Street and from Berry Street to Thomas Street, Pulaski Avenue from Meade Street heading east approximately 400 feet, Chemung Street from Howard Street to Pulaski Avenue and Walnut Street from First Street to Poplar Street.

Additional streets on the 2012 paving list may be added to the schedule as work progresses on the above-mentioned streets.

Soldiers Circle group set for projects

SHAMOKIN - The Soldiers Circle Veterans Association announced it will install collar lights on two flag poles in Shamokin and two in Coal Township in preparation for the Anthracite Heritage Festival on May 25 and 26.

The association will also be part of a special cleanup and mowing of the Shamokin Cemetery, along with the Shamokin Cemetery Committee, The Shamokin American Legion, Magisterial District Judge John Gembic's community service program.

Those wishing to volunteer are asked to meet at the cemetery at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 12 or Saturday, May 19. Students from Shamokin Area High School are reminded that volunteering can complete their community service requirements.

Gembic's community service program will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of The Coal Bowl.

AFSCME retirees meeting planned

MOUNT CARMEL - The monthly meeting of the Pennsylvania Retirees Subchapter 8601 of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) Council 13 will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, at the BPO Elks Lodge, 128 N. Oak St., Mount Carmel.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Monday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; exercise, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; shopping at Boscov's, van leaves at 9 a.m., cost is $2; bridge, noon.

Wednesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; Michelle Morgan will speak on "Nutrition," noon; pinochle and Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; exercise, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; nickel bingo, noon.

Saturday - Cards, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Mount Carmel

Monday - Wii bowling, 9 to 10 a.m.; Exercise HSIM, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; bean bag, 12:30 p.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Tuesday - Wii bowling, 9 to 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Unlucky 7s, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Last day to sign up for Mother's/Father's Day luncheon at Mattucci's Restaurant, $11; Wii bowling, 9 to 10 a.m.; exercise HSIM, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:30 a.m.; members meeting with bingo to follow, 1 p.m.

Thursday - Wii bowling, 9 to 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; gab fest, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii bowling, 9 to 10 a.m.; exercise to music, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Kulpmont

Sunday - Pinochle and rummie, 1:30 p.m.

Monday - Bean bag with Wii to follow, 10:30 a.m.; Loaded Questions, noon; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Wii in the morning; knitting, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle-cards, noon.

Wednesday - Wii and knitting in the morning; Bunco, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Wii in the morning; trip to NCCTC; Francine from Family Medical speaking at noon on "Shared Housing for Seniors"; member's meeting followed by bingo, 12:30 p.m.; evening cards, 4 p.m.

Friday - Wii and knitting in the morning; nickel bingo with cards to follow, 12:30 p.m.

Centralia-Wilburton

Monday - Serving breakfast, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.

Tuesday - PTH exercise with Carol Burton, 10:15 a.m.

Wednesday - Trip to the Columbia Mall for the Healthy Living Expo.

Thursday - No activities listed.

Friday - Mother's Day dinner and program.

Elysburg

Monday - Pokeno, noon.

Tuesday - Healthy Steps, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday - Bingo, noon.

Thursday - Healthy Steps, 9:30 a.m.

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon; Members meeting at noon, this will also be donut day.

The Wii Fit is available at the center for anyone interested in using it.

New membership cards are here and dues for the year are $5.

Trevorton

Monday - Free members breakfast, 8:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; 31 card game, 12:30 p.m.; evening card party, 7 p.m.

Tuesday - Games on the Wii, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; shopping at Weis Markets, 12:30 p.m., $2 co-pay; evening bingo, 6 p.m.

Wednesday - Scrabble, 9:30 a.m.; food pick up from noon to 3:30 p.m.; Cinco de Mayo day, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Games on the Wii, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; members meeting, 12:30 p.m.; guest speaker from Family Medical, 1:30 p.m.; evening bingo, 6 p.m.

Friday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; $1 bingo, noon.

ELYSBURG - Walkers from around the area will gather at Knoebels Amusement Resort on Saturday, May 12 for the annual Pregnancy Care Center Walk For Life.

Walkers will gather at the park for registration at 9 a.m. and start walking a three-mile course. Participants will gather sponsors that will raise money for the center, located at 150 S. Market St., Shamokin.

Money raised from the walk will help assist care center women and transform lives through the following services: pregnancy tests and counseling, post-abortion counseling and support groups, childbirth and parenting classes, material assistance, adoption counseling and referrals, referrals to doctors and community services and Bible studies.

Following the walk, a free hot dog lunch will be provided to all participants.

Walkers who raise $75 in sponsorships will earn a T-shirt. Walkers who raise $150 will earn a sunvisor and shirt and those raising $350 will earn a duffle bag, t-shirt and sunvisor.

Those that can't make it to the walk on May 12 can walk on their own time and bring the sponsorship form and donations to the office.

For more information about the event, contact the center at 648-2600, or go to their website at www.pregnancycare.us.

The widely varying claims that state funding for public education has stayed the same or slightly increased or that it's been cut by nearly $1 billion depends on how the numbers are presented. Here is a breakdown of Line Mountain School District funding for six fiscal years. While the Corbett administration says subtract the ARRA, or federal stimulus money, and funding has been maintained. But critics ask how school districts are expected to pay increased health care premiums, pensions and operational costs when funding in 2011-12 and as proposed for 2012-13 is the same as it was four years ago.

2007-08: $5,737,833

2008-09: $5,909,969

2009-10: $5,326,003 with about an additional $715,000 in ARRA money, $6,041,000

2010-11: 5,207,443 with about an additional $717,000 in ARRA money, $5,924,000

2011-12: $5,909,000

2012-13*: $5,909,000

* Proposed

ELYSBURG - The little nip in the air was more suggestive of the end of the park season, but the sounds, smells and atmosphere told a different story - Knoebels is open for business for another year.

Saturday was the first day of Knoebels' 86th season, and people from all over the country - including coaster enthusiasts and locals - were out in force.

"It's something we always plan for, coming out the first weekend in April and the last weekend of the year in October," said Susan Adams of Freeville, N.Y. "It's become a family tradition."

Adams, her husband Scott and their son Mark, were among the first this year to ride the Black Diamond thrill ride, which simulates a ride in coal cars through a haunted mine. The Black Diamond proved to be a popular attraction Saturday, with the line stretching past the "one hour wait from this point" sign.

The Adams family said the wait was worth it.

"That was an awesome ride," Mark Adams said. "The whole thing had a great pace to it and it was good."

"When we went through the rolling tunnel, I thought for sure the car was going onto its side," Scott Adams said.

Kiddleland was also full of family members enjoying the day, including Keyen Faust, of Shamokin.

"He just turned three this week, and all he talked about was going to 'Nobels'," said the boy's grandfather, Barry Rohrer.

With Faust on the steed and Rohrer by his side, the two rode the Stein and Goldstein carousel, making its return after being severely damaged during the Flood of 2011.

Rohrer was amazed at how good the ride looked, considering the damage last year.

"On a nearby tree, there is the flood line from last year, and the way it looks, this ride was pretty much under water," Rohrer said. "They did a great job cleaning it up and making it look good.

Food stands selling candy apples and funnel cakes were busy. The hand stamp ink was also flowing, with lines stretching to the covered bridge, thanks to a "buy one, get one free" offer.

"It's a good day so far," said Knoebels Director of Public Relations Joe Muscato.

The park will be open weekends until May 23, when it begins daily operations until Labor Day weekend.

The time and place for a day out was perfect, the 50-degree temperature notwithstanding.

"We always wait for Knoebels to open up after the winter," Rohrer said. "We didn't have much of a winter, but we have some cold days now. Knowing that Knoebels is open still means that warmer days and beautiful weather are on the way."

COAL TOWNSHIP - Despite all the turmoil and change brought about by Shamokin Area School District's budget crisis, when the new school year begins Aug. 27, elementary students will have art classes, they will have music classes and they will have physical education.

Those same lessons will be offered in the middle school, too.

The difference from this school year to next is how these courses will be taught.

In the elementary school, homeroom teachers will take over the lessons from their furloughed colleagues.

It's more complicated in the middle school, where teachers must incorporate elements of music, art and physical education into core lessons in English, mathematics, science and social studies.

The change came about earlier this month when the school board voted to lay off 19 teachers, a controversial decision but one the board said was necessary to further reduce a budget deficit that topped $5.6 million last fall.

The new process

Elementary students will still have classes in the art room, in the music room and in the gymnasium, Principal Mary Theresa Komara said Wednesday.

Those lessons will no longer be taught by specialized teachers, however, but by elementary homeroom teachers, all of whom are trained and certified in those subject areas.

"They're going to have an

enrichment schedule and they're going to have phys ed, and the classroom teacher is going to the gym. They're going to go to the library and exchange books," Komara said. "They're going to go to the art room."

Some teachers who have more expertise in music may teach those lessons to more homerooms than their own, perhaps switching off with teachers who have stronger backgrounds in art or phys ed, she said.

The state has academic standards for enrichment classes; standards increase by grade level. It's up to an individual school district to determine a curriculum to meet those standards.

For example, students must learn vocabulary in the art forms and use those words more technically as they advance in age. They must also, by eighth grade, explain works of others within each art form through performance or exhibition, as well as classify different styles and genres.

Among the standards set for phys ed, the state requires a third-grader to identify and engage in physical activities; a sixth-grader to engage in moderate to vigorous activities. How often that activity must occur is not explained in the state standards.

They must also, over time, learn basic teamwork and etiquette, and basic game strategies and physical activities.

Not the first time

Exactly what the lesson plans will look like will be refined over the summer as Komara and Assistant Principal Karen Colangelo work with school personnel to develop a strategy.

They could look to the past for guidance.

When furloughs occurred in the district "years ago," Komara said, homeroom teachers then faced the same tasks their contemporaries face today.

Lesson plans were developed by department heads and Komara said those plans will be reviewed.

She couldn't speak to the depth of knowledge a homeroom teacher may have in any given enrichment course subject.

"You can't take credit away from them," she said of the art, music and gym teachers who will be laid off at the end of the current school year. "They specialized in that for years."

Middle school options

It's a little different in the middle school because students aren't with one teacher all day, Principal Chris Venna said Thursday.

"In our case, we can incorporate things into the curriculum in English, math, science and social studies," he said, adding that the district would encourage middle school teachers to do this as often as possible.

Lessons on music or art history can easily be incorporated into a lesson plan, Venna said, while admitting physical education will prove more challenging.

There will no longer be gym classes, meaning physical education will veer toward lessons on theory using books versus putting those lessons to test on the gym floor.

There are opportunities for alternatives.

Venna used his own experiences as a teacher to offer examples of how enrichment courses could be blended into the core curriculum.

When he taught eighth-grade mathematics, he gave lessons on tessellations - a pattern of geometric shapes where there are no overlaps, such as a honeycomb or brick wall - and used the works of famed artist M.C. Escher as examples.

For high school physics, he'd use student performance in the weight room for lessons on work, force and power.

A statistics teacher could use similar data on the number of pushups or sit-ups completed in a given time period for lessons on creating bar graphs and other data tables, and on finding the mean, median and mode of a data set, he said.

"Teachers are flexible in working for students. Over the years, our teachers have gotten better and better at that," he said.

Creative outlets in typically staid course lessons could prove beneficial for students who, for example, don't excel at mathematics but have an artistic bent.

"The benefit for (teachers) is that students will be more engaged when they're doing those types of lessons," Venna said.

"Teachers will have to be more creative in finding those things," he said.

Instrumental instruction

When the furloughs were made, the entire music department in the elementary and middle schools was wiped out. That leaves the future of individual lessons on musical instruments up in the air.

"I'm not sure how that would work. When it comes to instrumental lessons, that will be our biggest challenge," Venna said.

He said an alternative at the middle school could be establishment of an after-school club where lessons could be taught.

"It's not the same, by any means," he said, "but it's better than (having) no opportunities."

Clubs in middle and high school are commonplace. They're non-existent at the elementary.

That could change, Komara said, as a music club could be a possibility there as well.

She said there is some talk of seeking help through the school's PTA to contract with someone to provide instrument lessons. Grant funding opportunities will also be sought, she said.

"My teachers will work over and beyond the call of duty if they have to. They will do what they need to do to meet the needs of the students, and they have done that in the past," Komara said.

Venna readily admitted these changes are no replacement for the benefits that come with specialized teachers overseeing courses in art, music and phys ed.

"Nothing will be the same as having art class with an art teacher, but it can be something we can offer until the budget gets better," he said.

First in a series

The state Department of Education (DOE) spells out the numbers in making its case that it is the loss of federal stimulus money - not Gov. Tom Corbett's supposed disdain for public education and teachers - that has left many school districts across the state struggling to erase multimillion-dollar budgets for the second straight year.

School officials knew the stimulus, totaling $1.7 billion for Pennsylvania's public education over two fiscal years, was temporary funding, but they came to rely on it, DOE and the administration argue.

"Many were fiscally prudent," said Tim Eller, DOE press secretary. "Others weren't, and now that the stimulus money's gone, they're pointing the finger at the governor."

Then why did the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), in its press release last week criticizing Corbett's visit to Paxinos for a $1,000 per couple political fundraiser eight days after Shamokin Area furloughed 21 staff, repeat the notion that the governor's cuts to education will total nearly $1 billion if next year's fiscal budget passes as proposed?

"Solely because of the loss of stimulus money," Eller contends.

But it's not that simple, PSEA and local school administrators argue.

Line Mountain Superintendent Dave Campbell said his district received the warnings that the stimulus money, provided for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal years, was temporary. And Line Mountain heeded that warning, using the money for one-time technology and construction projects, not salaries or ongoing programs, he said.

Besides, Campbell said, then-Gov. Rendell, joined by the Republican legislature that now criticizes school officials, allowed the state to decrease its education subsidy and use stimulus money to make up the difference.

"That's exactly what they told us not to do," he said.

Shamokin Area School District received the warning, too, but in 2009 it conflicted with a communication received just months before from the state legislature saying public schools were in line to receive more funding, said Superintendent James Zack.

Apart from the conflicting messages, Zack said all districts were put in a bind because the state budget, once again that year, was late. It passed in September, with schools learning of their subsidies after the new fiscal year had begun.

"Planning is a lot different in September when you're already into the school year," Zack said.

Rather than engaging in a "shell game" of whether funds were cut or increased, simply talk to any administrator in any public school district who's struggling to balance a budget, said Wythe Keever, assistant communications director at PSEA, Harrisburg.

"No matter how you slice it or where you attribute the difference, there's more than $900 million less in available funds," he said.

He said the Corbett administration has made a choice not to restore education funding to pre-stimulus levels, and that, PSEA argues, has harmed public education.

Stagnant funding

A study of state funding numbers and how they're presented can lead to varied conclusions. DOE figures show that total education proposed for 2012-13 is $10.63 billion, an increase of $100 million, or just under 1 percent. That includes basic education ($9.56 billion, up 3.7 percent), education support services ($27.5 million, down 2 percent), higher education ($977.7 million, down 19.6 percent) and library services ($58.1 million, down 5 percent).

Funding for what's known as the "basic education line item," part of the $9.56 billion basic education total, Eller said, is proposed to increase by about $21.8 million, about one-half percent, from $6.49 to $6.51 billion - in Corbett's 2012-13 budget.

The result for Line Mountain and many other districts is stagnant funding, Campbell said, that has districts receiving the same for 2012-13 as they did four years ago, pre-stimulus.

Meanwhile, districts are struggling to account for increases in salaries, pensions, health and general operations, and inflation, Campbell said.

"What is crippling us is several things: no increase to basic education. If inflation is even 3 percent, we're getting behind," he said.

For these reasons, districts have been forced to furlough teachers and cut programs in order to compensate, he said. It started last year at Line Mountain and elsewhere, and is worse in many cases this year.

At Shamokin Area, which made its controversial cuts as part of an effort to close a $5.6 million deficit in a $27 million budget, still has some $2.5 million to trim before adopting a balanced budget in June.

Counting on more

There's a provision in the Public School Code, called Hold Harmless, that says no school district can receive less funding than the year before. It's based on the 1990 census, according to www.paschoolfunding.org.

"You could always count on what you got the year before," said Stephen Curran, Shamokin Area's business manager. "When Gov. Corbett got in, he threw it out the window."

While districts were warned by state administration that the stimulus funding was temporary, Zack said the state administration must have known from the federal government that the funding had a short lifeline before deciding to use it to backfill education expenditures.

The qualm, he said, isn't that the stimulus funding disappeared, but that the state didn't make up for the loss.

"After 25 years of getting equal to or more money, it's hard to imagine there would be some other provision," Zack said. "From a school district's perspective, we're not so much concerned where the state gets the money, but that we get the money."

Mixed message

Corbett himself, in his visit to the Shamokin area last week, noted that it's taxpayer money, "whether it's coming from the local school district or the state."

But he also stressed the loss of federal stimulus money, saying "we don't have as much money at the state" as it did two years ago.

Eller said the state received $657 million in federal stimulus in 2009-10 and another $1 billion-plus in 2010-11, a combined $1.7 billion.

That money was put into the "basic line item" - the largest pot of money divided among all school districts, based on, among other things, the wealth of the district and the number of disadvantaged students.

While Campbell blamed both Democrats and Republicans, Eller cites only the Rendell administration for reducing the state's education contribution and "backfilling" it with stimulus funds. In Rendell's last budget, 2010-11, the basic line item for education had $4.7 billion in state funding and $1 billion from the stimulus, Eller said.

But there was no stimulus money for last year's budget, which, coincidentally, was Gov. Tom Corbett's first.

Corbett did increase the basic line item funding by $621 million in the 2011-12 budget, growing it 13 percent from $4.7 billion to $5.3 billion. But with the absence of the $1 billion in stimulus funding, the result was a $400 million decrease from the $5.7 billion the previous budget year, Eller said.

For 2012-13, the $5.3 billion total will stay the same, he said.

So an increase in last fiscal year and the same funding proposed for 2012-13. Why, then, all the heat on the administration? Eller was asked.

"Some of the message is not getting out there," he said. And, there are the "naysayers."

Keever at PSEA, meanwhile, explains the number differential this way.

"It's a distinction without a difference."

(Coming Monday: Are teacher and administrator salaries part of the problem? Also, Shamokin Area's Act 93 administrators contract is published.)

COAL TOWNSHIP - This is the language of the current administrative contract at Shamokin Area School District, referred to as "Act 93" for the state law regarding school district administrators' contracts.

In light of the district's budget crisis, negotiations between the board and administration are reportedly taking place involving this agreement.

Superintendent James Zack and business manager Stephen Curran have contracts separate from the Act 93 agreement, but receive the same increases and benefits as other administrators.

(Note: the agreement presented here has been edited for length with the elimination of generic language.)

ARTICLE II

Section 2

For the purposes of this agreement, the Administrative Team shall include the following full-time permanent employees:

A. Professional Administrative Positions:

1. Elementary Principal (260 days)

2. High School Principal (260 days)

3. Special Education Supervisor (260 days)

4. High School Assistant Principal(s) (260 days)

5. Elementary Assistant Principal (s) (260 days)

6. Elementary Assistant Principal/Federal Programs Coordinator (260 days)

7. Curriculum Coordinator (260 days)

8. Other personnel as defined under ACT 93 by the Board

B. Support Services Administrative Positions:

9. Supervisor of Building and Grounds (260 days)

10. Dean of Students/Assistant to High School Principal (260 days)

11. Technology Coordinator (260 days)

12. Director of Food & Nutrition (260 days)

13. Assistant Supervisor of Buildings & Grounds (260 days)

14. Athletic Director (260 days )

15. Other personnel as defined under ACT 93 by the Board

ARTICLE III

WAGES AND SALARIES

Section 2

Administrative Team members shall be granted salary increases as follows:

The Board will meet with any and all Administrative Team members prior to the adoption of any subsequent compensation plan.

Salary discussion with the Board will begin before the 28th of February.

The Board shall respond to the Administrative Team within forty-five (45) days at a session where the Board will explain the decisions made on administrative compensation. The Board will provide a written copy of these decisions.

During the term of this agreement, a minimum increase each July 1 of 5%, 5%, 4%, 3%, and 3% for each year of the agreement, respectively.

The Board may annually entertain an individual merit increase or other merit pay above minimum based on the Superintendent's recommendations.

Section 3:

The District shall match (dollar for dollar) amounts invested by Administrative Team members in a plan selected by the District, which qualifies for tax shelter in accordance with IRS regulations. The matching funds shall be limited to a maximum of 4% of the Team Member's regular salary.

ARTICLE IV

DAILY WORK SCHEDULE

The Board recognizes the professional nature of the Administrative Team member's position and that time parameters of the Administrative Team members cannot be determined. Each Administrative Team member is expected to devote such time as shall be necessary and appropriate for the discharge of that member's duties. For off-session days, administrators would follow a flexible schedule, at the discretion of the Superintendent, contingent upon work load, emergencies, etc. Further, the Board may establish performance and job criteria that anticipate or require the presence and/or performance by an Administrative Team member at certain times and events.

ARTICLE V

HOLIDAYS AND VACATION

Section 1 - Holidays

a. New Year's Eve

b. New Years Day

c. Martin Luther King Day

d. Presidents Day

e. Good Friday

f. Easter Monday

g. Memorial Day

h. Independence Day

i. Labor Day

j. Thanksgiving Day

k. Day following Thanksgiving

l. Christmas Eve Day

m. Christmas Day

n. Day Following Christmas

o. Birthday of administrator

Student Holidays in District Annual Calendar, except as required by job description or responsibilities. (Does not include teacher in-service days)

Section 2 - Vacation

a. The vacation time for a 260 day employees shall be twenty (20) days. Prior approval of the Superintendent is required.

Vacation days may be accrued up to a maximum of 35 days. Vacation days may also be reimbursed to the Administrator at the individual per-diem rate.

ARTICLE VI

LEAVES OF ABSENCE

Section 1 - Funeral Leave

Administrative Team members who are absent from work in order to attend the funeral of a member of the employee's family shall be granted up to five (5) days of paid leave for near relatives and one (1) for distant relatives as defined in the SAEA contract.

Section 2 - Sabbatical Leave

Certified Administrative Team members shall be granted paid Sabbatical Leave in accordance with the provisions of the Public School Code.

The number of Sabbatical Leaves granted annually is limited to one of the persons eligible for such Leave of Absence.

Insurance and medical benefits will remain in force during a Sabbatical Leave. Such benefits shall continue to be paid by the Board during Sabbatical Leave at the same level as provided to Team members not on Leave.

Section 3 - Jury Duty Leave

The School Board shall pay to any Administrative Team member called for Jury Duty their regular daily rate of pay. The amount of pay received for jury duty, exclusive of travel expenses, shall be returned to the District.

Section 4 - Sick Days

Sick Days, including family sick days, shall be granted at a rate of one (1) per month, 12 per year worked and are cumulative.

Section 5 - Personal Days

Each team member shall be granted three (3) personal days each year. Any of these days that are not used by June 30 of each year may accumulate as such. Prior approval of the superintendent is needed except when the personal day is an unforeseen event.

ARTICLE VII

INSURANCE BENEFITS

Section 1 - Life Insurance

The Board agrees to pay the premium for all Administrative Team Members of a Group Term Life Insurance Policy, including accidental death and dismemberment benefits, based on two times the employee's annual salary grated to the next highest $1,000, if not an even multiple.

Section 2 - Disability Insurance

The Board agrees to pay the premium for all Administrative Team Members of a Disability Insurance Program to provide for coverage at 60% of regular earnings for a maximum of $6,000 per month with an elimination period of ninety (90) days. The maximum duration of the benefit will be to the normal retirement age for Social Security.

Any Team member who does not qualify for disability insurance will be given an amount proportional to the total premiums for the purchase of supplemental insurance.

Section 3 - Hospitalization/Medical Insurance

The Board agrees to pay the premium for all Administrative Team Members and their eligible dependents, at no time be less than corresponding provisions of the AFSCME and SAEA contracts for the Health/Medical benefits given to a contribution of zero.

Section 4 - Dental Insurance

The Board agrees to provide dental insurance for all Administrative Team Members and their eligible dependents, at no time be less than corresponding provisions of the AFSCME and SAEA contracts for the Dental Benefits given to and contribution of zero.

Section 5 - Vision Insurance

The Board agrees to pay the premium for all Administrative Team Members and their eligible dependents, at no time be less than corresponding provisions of the AFSCME and SAEA contracts for equal to the Vision Benefits given to and contribution of zero.

Section 6 - Payment in Lieu of Insurance Coverage

The Board agrees to provide for payments to Team Members in lieu of insurance coverage at no time be less than corresponding provisions of the AFSCME and SAEA contracts for, adjusted to calendar year enrollment periods.

Section 7 - Unreimbursed/Uncovered Expenses

The Board agrees to reimburse the Administrative Team Members up to a total of $4,000 annually for dental and vision expenses incurred by an Administrative Team Member or their eligible dependents for expenses not covered by other insurances. To secure such reimbursement the Administrative Team Member shall present the School District with proof that such expenses have been paid by an Administrative Team Member and that the same are not subject to reimbursement through other insurance.

The Team Member will be reimbursed directly upon receipt of appropriate documentation. Third parties will not be reimbursed.

ARTICLE VIII

RETIREMENT COMPENSATION

Criteria

All provisions of Article VIII are contingent upon

a. The Team Members must have accumulated ten (10) years of full time service in the Shamokin Area School District. This includes persons with ten or more years of service in a position, which is or becomes entitled to Act 93 benefits.

The retirement is a permanent retirement from public education.

The Team Member qualifies to receive PSERS retirement payments within two (2) years of separation.

The Team Member provides at least 90 days notice of resignation. This criterion will be waived if, in the final year of this agreement, a new agreement has not been reached at least 90 days prior to expiration.

Years of service shall be the twelve (12) month year and shall be calculated from the later of the date of employment of qualification under "a" above.

Section 1 - Compensation for Sick Leave not Taken

Subject to the above criteria, the retiree will, upon the actual start of receiving benefits from PSERS, receive an amount equal to the prevailing high school daily substitute rate for each day of District (Shamokin) accumulated sick leave. Sick days taken will first be charged against those (if any) credited from prior employment. Any sick days remaining from prior employment will not qualify for this provision.

Section 2 - Retirement Incentive

Subject to the above criteria, the retiree will, upon actual start of receiving benefits from PSERS, receive $1,000 for each year of service as an administrator.

Section 3

Subject to the above criteria, the Shamokin Area School District will continue family hospitalization, dental, vision insurance for a period of ten (10) years or until the retiree is eligible for Medicare coverage or becomes eligible to participate in other employer sponsored medical insurance available without cost to the retiree (whichever comes first).

This excludes any provision for un-reimbursed/uncovered medical expenses (Article VII, Section 7). If this provision is found at any time during the contract to be in violation of federal law, the Board will continue insurance for ten (10) years.

ARTICLE IX

CONFERENCE, PROFESSIONAL DUES AND TUITION/COURSE CREDITS

Section 1 - Conference

Administrative Team Members, subject to approval of the Superintendent, should attend conferences in their respective fields. Costs are not to exceed $1500.

Section 2 - Professional Dues

The district will provide membership for Administrative Team Members as budgeted in their local, state, and national professional organizations as well as other organizations that may relate to their fields.

Section 3 - Tuition and Course Reimbursement

The district will reimburse or prepay course costs or tuition for post-graduate courses and credits in pursuance of additional certification or for maintaining current certifications for public education. Such courses of study and reimbursement are subject to pre-approval of the Superintendent.

Any employee receiving reimbursement who resigns within fewer than twelve months of said reimbursement shall pay the District one hundred percent (100%) of the reimbursement.

Should the employee resign within twelve and twenty-four months of said reimbursement, the employee shall pay the District seventy-five percent (75%) of the reimbursement. Should the employee resign within twenty-four and thirty-six months after said reimbursement, the employee will pay the District fifty percent (50%) of the reimbursement.

Employee must receive a grade of "B" or higher to qualify for the reimbursement

Section 4 - Releases Time

Approval of superintendent for administration to be released to attend post graduate course work, provided that it does not interfere; with completion of job responsibilities.

ARTICLE X

MILEAGE

Each Administrative Team Member shall be reimbursed at the IRS rate established each year.

ARTICLE XI

LEGAL AID

The Board agrees to pay for the cost of Legal Aid for Administrative Team Members who are involved in lawsuits related to the proper discharge of responsibilities connected with their position.

ARTICLE XIII

CONTRACT PROVISIONS

The Board recognizes that, during the length of this agreement, differences may develop between the Administrative Team Member's benefits and the SAEA contract. At no time will the provisions of this agreement be less than corresponding provisions of the SAEA contract.

Accordingly, when improvements to such other contracts exceed provisions of this contract, such benefits become immediately available to Administrative Team Members and become part of current and future Act 93 agreements unless negotiated otherwise.

The Board agrees to meet and discuss these and any other differences in provisions of the agreement should they arise.

ARTICLE XV

TERM OF AGREEMENT

This agreement shall become effective on July 1, 2011 and shall remain in full force for the period of five years ending June 30, 2016. This agreement may be reviewed annually.

Ralpho Township yard sale May 19

ELYSBURG - The Ralpho Township Business Association will sponsor the 16th annual township-wide yard sale, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 (rain or shine).

Everyone is encouraged to come out and participate in this township-wide yard sale. However, please park vehicle responsibly with respect to others property during this daylong sales event.

Silver Creek Fire Tower Hike May 4

BARNESVILLE - Hikers are invited to explore the mountain behind Locust Lake State park and visit Silver Creek Fire Tower at 9:30 a.m. The hike is five miles in length and moderate in difficulty. The pine stands and brush are perfect habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Hikers are asked to meet at the visitor parking lot at Locust Lake State Park located before the contact station. All pets much be leashed and get along with people and other pets. In case of inclement weather, the hike will be cancelled.

For more information, contact Robin at 467-2506.

DANVILLE - For 50 years, the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius have opened their hearts and Danville home to the elderly needing care.

With the help of Bishop Joseph McFadden, from the Diocese of Harrisburg, the Sisters, area clergy members and staff and supporters of Maria Joseph Manor gathered Sunday to celebrate the facilities' 50th anniversary with a Eucharistic Liturgy at the campus basilica.

"Every sister here knows we cannot carry out God's mission alone," said Sister Linda Maria Bolinski, General Superior for the order. "Long before there was a baby boom and taking care of the elderly became a growing business, we were here, caring for and nurturing senior citizens."

Attendance was by invitation only for those who have supported the Sisters and the Manor in its endeavors. The theme for the anniversary celebration is "Preserving the Tradition, Fulfilling the Mission."

"Everyone here has played a part in helping our dreams come true and will help to accomplish new dreams as plans unfold to continue our mission," Bolinski said.

The first guests were welcomed to Maria Joseph Manor's 100-bed facility on March 19, 1962. Some coming from a temporary residence they shared with the Sisters in Middletown.

It soon became known as a "Home with a Heart," and quickly filled to capacity.

Recognizing that the population of the area was quickly aging, the Sisters of St. Cyril and Methodius began making plans to expand Maria Joseph Manor, turning it into a personal care facility and adding an independent living area called The Meadows; Emmanuel, a 90-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, and the Nazareth Memory Center, a 24-bed facility for residents coping with dementia.

McFadden, the liturgy's celebrant, spoke about the Sisters' life mission in his homily, calling them "Shepherds of the community" and explained their mission to those attending.

"A shepherd will always take care of their flock, and these Sisters have done that, looking after the children of God that come into their care," McFadden said.

Also, the sisters have shown the shepherd-like qualities of protecting their flock from "the wolves."

"The wolves," the bishop said, "are those who do not respect life, or do not feel every life is important, having no value or worth. God teaches us each life deserves respect, and these shepherds show that."

McFadden said they not only care for the residents physically, but spiritually and mentally as well, showing them all compassion and understanding.

"Many times, people wonder if God is with them during times of trouble. The Sisters have shown He is and lead us to our pastures, a place of peace."

McFadden thanked the sisters for their work in Christ, raising people up and bringing them home.

Following the service, McFadden gave a blessing to Maria Joseph Manor's chapel, followed by a dinner.

Other events scheduled for the 50th anniversary celebration include a special reception for residents, staff and families on June 2, an invitation-only formal reception at the Meadows Community Center, and a special mass for residents, staff, family and friends to close the celebration on Oct. 21.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A pickup truck driver was airlifted to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment following a 3 a.m. crash Sunday on Trevorton Road.

According to reports from the scene, the truck was traveling south on Trevorton Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle and left the east side of the roadway. It then entered a grassy section causing the vehicle to roll then collide with a utility pole before coming to rest on its roof. Emergency crews had to extricate the driver, who, at press time, had not yet been identified, from the vehicle and transport him to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital where he was then flown via Life Flight helicopter to Gesinger Medical Center, Danville for treatment.

Route 225 was closed for approximately three hours while crews removed the vehicle from the roadway and cleaned up debris and tires the driver was hauling in the truck's bed.

PPL Electric crews were later summoned to the scene to replace the utility pole. Power was briefly knocked out for residents of Trevorton. Coal Township Police stated that the crash remains under investigation.

Second in a series

Gov. Tom Corbett, in defending his education funding proposal last spring, asked public school administrators and teachers statewide to consider taking a pay freeze, a move he said could save $400 million.

"I am here to say that education cannot be the only industry exempt from recession," he said at the time.

When the governor came to Paxinos last week, an even more contentious school funding battle in 2012-13 having played out locally with 21 furloughs at Shamokin Area School District OK'd just eight days earlier, he noted how teachers in Carlisle had recently voted to reduce their 4 percent pay increase to 2 percent to avoid layoffs.

"My question: has that happened here? Has that been requested here?" Corbett said about Shamokin Area.

To answer those questions, it has not happened, but it apparently has been requested, of both teachers and administrators.

Last year, it did happen at Line Mountain, said Superintendent Dave Campbell.

"Everyone, from the cook to me, got no increases. Nothing," Campbell said. And that included, beyond any raises spelled out in the teachers contracts, the annual 2.5 percent "step" increases that are virtually guaranteed for teachers statewide in each of their first 15 years.

Contracts and freezes

Corbett, backed locally by Sen. John Gordner (R-27) and Kurt Masser (R-107), fellow Republicans, said school board members need to shoulder more responsibility for the education funding crisis. They have been handing out raises to teachers and administrators that their districts can't afford, and schools have been adding staff even while enrollment declined, they argue.

Cuts to staff did begin locally last year. Four local districts, Line Mountain, Mount Carmel Area, Shamokin Area and Southern Columbia Area, had 39 fewer teachers, a total of 497, when the current school year began, according to data collected last summer.

Line Mountain had the biggest reduction, 13, from 110 to 97; Mount Carmel trimmed 12 teachers, from 121 to 109; Shamokin Area had 10 fewer, dropping from 185 to 175; and Southern Columbia eliminated four positions, down from 120 to 116.

The reductions, however, came after each of the four districts experienced at least five straight years where teacher numbers increased every year. Even with the reductions, Mount Carmel Area, Shamokin Area and Southern Columbia all have more teachers in 2011-12 than they did in 2006-07. Line Mountain is the exception, with 97 to start this school year and 101 six years ago.

Shamokin Area's most recent teacher contract was approved in June 2010 and took effect July 1 that year. It was a two-year extension that came a year before the previous contract's expiration. Raises were to be given at $2,500 the first year and $2,200 the second, with no new health benefits.

At Southern, a new three-year contract approved in 2010 gave teachers an average salary increase of 3.3 percent the first year, about $1,700 for the average teacher, 3.19 in 2011-12 and 3.09 in the coming school year. The new contract cost taxpayers nearly $200,000 a year, it was reported at the time.

At Mount Carmel Area, a three-year contract that expires this year increased salaries by $3,000 in 2009-10 and $2,000 each in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

In addition to Line Mountain's across-the-board salary freezes, Mount Carmel Area administrators early last year - prior to Corbett's suggestion - accepted a one-year pay freeze for the current school year. Teachers there did not approve a pay freeze.

Southern's administrators agreed to freeze their salaries last year, but not for 2012-13. The teachers union voted again this year not to take a pay freeze for 2012-13, it was reported in February.

Salary impact

Gordner cited state Labor and Industry statistics in advance of Corbett's visit last week that teacher contracts, especially with the "step" raises, have doubled that of private-sector raises for white-collar jobs, which have averaged 2.59 percent over the past 10 years. He said the contracts are "smothering" school districts, and that with enrollment declining and staff levels increasing, Corbett decided "enough is enough."

But Wythe Keever, assistant communications director at the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) points to a 48-page report, "Sounding the Alarm, PSEA's White Paper on the Increasing Number of Pennsylvania School Districts at Risk of Financial Distress," issued in March, to refute the claims of rising salaries impacting school budgets. It shows that salaries and benefits as a percentage of school district budgets declined from 68.1 percent in 1995-96 to 65.4 in 2002-03 and to 61.8 in 2009-10. He acknowledges it is forecast to climb slightly by 2017-18 to 62.7, but that it will still be more than 5 percent lower at that time than 20 years prior.

"So the argument that salaries and benefits are driving up school costs is simply not accurate," Keever said.

He asks "for how many years?" are educators supposed to take cuts or wage freezes to "make up for" the governor's cuts?

"That won't balance Shamokin's budget," he said. "It won't balance any school's budget."

What it will do is harm students, he says, with larger class sizes and the loss of course offerings, extra-curricular activities and support programs for struggling students.

PSEA argues the administration must look at reforming the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax and the "Delaware loophole" to generate revenue, and noted the Legislature chose only to impose an impact fee on the Marcellus Shale industry rather than an extraction tax that exists in most states where natural gas or other drilling takes place.

"The revenue is out there," Keever said. "It can't just be a 'cuts-only' argument."

But Gordner said to continue giving raises that are in the neighborhood of 6 percent annually is "simply unsustainable."

"When it comes down to eliminating positions or freezing salaries," he said, "I would hope and I would encourage local teacher unions to look (at the latter)."

(Coming Tuesday: Transportation becomes a concern with new "block grant" funding structure.)