With no agreement before it expires, the Jeff Tech Operating Committee moves to extend the current teacher’s contract

With no contract agreement in sight with it’s teacher’s union, the Jeff Tech Operating Committee took action at it’s June 27 meeting to delay the expiration of the current contract.

By a unanimous vote, the committee approved a motion to extend the current agreement with the teacher’s association which is set to expire June 30. The motion stated that the contract would “continue status quo with the exception there will be no salary increases or step movement.”

When asked by Reynlow News about the status of the negotiations, School Director Dr. Barry Fillman responded that “they have not been resolved.”

In other action, the committee approved the appointment of Dr. Erich May, the superintendent of the Brookville Area School District, as the Chief School Administrator at Jeff Tech from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. Dr. May has been the superintendent in Brookville for the past three years. He replaces Dr. Thomas Lesniewski, the superintendent at the Punxsutawney School District, who served as the Chief School Administrator for the past four years.

The meeting also featured a discussion about the school lunch program. When asked about the food service report, which showed a surplus in the account, Jeff Tech Business manager Sherry Hassleman explained that the school received extra money from a government program during the pandemic that allowed the school to continue to provide breakfast and lunch for free to all students. Although that program ended, the school will revert back to the previous program so that the free meals will still be available to all students.

“Students still will get free breakfast and lunch, but the reimbursement rate won’t be as high,” she said.

Hasselman commended the food service staff for their efforts. Dr. Fillman also praised Principal Melissa Mowrey and her staff for their efforts in handling the increased number of students attending Jeff Tech.

In a related move, the committee approved the purchase of two countertop warmers at a cost of $3,700 each for the Food Service Program.

In other action, the committee approved the hiring of Shelly Harmon as the new Special Education Secretary.

Since the committee will not meet in July, Dr. Fillman announced some important dates for the upcoming school year. The first teacher day will be August 22. Freshman Orientation will take place on August 23. The first day of school is set for August 25.