"Kids Come First"; but It's the Money and Vacation Time That Keeps the Sides Apart
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More news stories inside Watervliet City Commission appoints Vision Committee, Page 5 Free H1N1 shots scheduled by Health Dept., Page 7 CHS students earn Academic letters & chevrons. Page 8 Free Thanksgiving turkey drawing Coloma athlete signs letter of intent with Valparaiso U., Page 13 DANCE DEBUT...Local dancers will debut as the "Lady eoupons are Admirals*' Dance and Cheer Team at next week's Lake on Page 11 Construction blunder may be end of Hartford Theater, Page 16 Michigan Admirals' free exhibition game. Page 14 The Newspaper for Coloma - Hartford - Watervliet 463-NEWS [email protected] yvwyv.tricityrecord.com W_U^U I I/HALU IJL I .-1 t iomvj a jL/'i TRI-CITY or KlNLii Iv'ii 4y^ci4 RD 127th Year Issue #47 November iv, zuuy Seventy-five Cents Teachers working without a contract as negotiations continue at Watervliet "Kids Come First"; but it's the money and vacation time that keeps the sides apart By Man Brest Reck "We are all happy with the calendar that made the teachers balk. Superintendent. Once again the economy weighs in on approved jointly by the Board and the Additionally, the timing of the Christ- Coloma in second year of a struggle at Watervliet Public union," said Pline. mas break would mean a full two three-year contract Schools. Watervliet educators have School Superintendent Bob Gabel weeks off, a situation the teachers Coloma schools will also face these been teaching these past several agreed that the calendar resolution union supported. issues all too soon. months without a contract. The teach- was a positive sign. "We were able to The compromise led to an approval of "We are currently in the second year ers and administration have been come up with a three-year calendar," 178 student instruction days for this of a three-year contract," said Coloma negotiating since May. said Gabel. "We agreed to how many year and 181 teacher workdays, with Superintendent Terry Boguth. In Co- "Even Without a Contract, Your Kids calendar days teachers must work and less half-days of instruction. loma, according to Boguth, they re- Come First" reads a sign in a teacher's how many student days of instruc- The three-year agreement allows for a JUST SO YOU KNOW...As admin- view the salary and insurance pack- car, parked in the Watervliet High tion." gradual increase back to the 180/183 istrators and teachers have yet to ages every year. "We will be doing School/Middle School parking lot. In the past, according to Gabel, days. reach a contract, Watervliet teach- ers are still on the job. "Even With- that again in the spring for the 2010- The announcement is indicative of the Watervliet has held 180 days of stu- Salary and insurance 2011 school year. Last time, it took commitment of both parties to reach dent instruction and 183 of teacher out a Contract, Your Kids Come still a sticking point until the summer but negotiations an agreement in the best interests of workdays - allowing for in-service First" reads this sign on a car in the Both sides agree that more work were completed." the entire School District. and professional development days. WHS parking lot. needs to be done. "We are still work- The School Board and the teachers The snag came this year due to the (Lynn Attila photo) ing on the insurance and salary issue," union have been negotiating to devel- state law requiring that public schools said Pline. "We will have another op a satisfactory conclusion for both cannot begin until after Labor Day. sized. "The money is just not there. meeting in December, with both sides sides. "It's a long process," said Lori Since Labor Day fell on the latest The economy is bad, and it is going to trying to work out this issue." Pline, President of the Watervliet possible day this year, schools could get worse. Right now, the negotiations This may be a challenge, however. Education Association (WEA) teach- not begin until September 8. The are at a stalemate. We cannot come to "The main holdup," according to ers union. Pline is a fifth-grade teacher Board wanted no reduction in student an agreement." Gabel, "is an unrealistic compensation at North School. instruction days but that would require A third-party negotiator has been package request." So far, the two sides have been able to that the School District stay in session called in to help mediate the situation, "It's terrible out there," he empha- agree on the calendar of workdays. until the third week of June, an idea a service offered by the state. This neutral party will work to bring both Compiled by Annette Christie 1 sides together and will, hopefully, be Happy 104th Birthday. Grace! able to facilitate an agreement. The third session is set for December Watervliet man 7. "I hope that Pearl Harbor Day is not a sign," quipped Gabel. charged with Area districts empathize criminal sexual Though compounded by the current sr- W X & w economic situation, this struggle is not conduct with a .. new to school districts in the Tri-City Area. minor girl Last year at this time, teachers at Coloma Charter Township Police De- I' Hartford Public Schools were working partment reports that an 18-year-old w ithout a contract as well. After three t. ."i liiiii Watervliet man has been charged with •' I I months of effort, the district and the tw o counts of criminal sexual conduct, Si SEIU union for teachers and secre- third degree. taries were able to finalize a two-year The department was contacted on m 11 is contract. They will have to begin the October II by a Coloma Township .it process again in August 2010, in resident who alleged that her 14-year- L.^' " "li. preparation for the 2010/2011 school old daughter had sexual intercourse year. with an adult male while at a relative's "You want your employees to get the house in the 5000 block of Paw Paw best," said Hartford Superintendent Lake Road in Coloma Township. The Dave Levstek of the recurring process. ir-| 14-year-old victim subsequently ad- "You want to give them the best. We mitted to two consensual sexual en- want the best for all our employees counters with the suspect within a and for our district, to make everyone month. happy. But these are very tough times CELEBRATES 104TH BIRTHDAY...Grace Kibler recently celebrated her 104th birthday with a party at the Officers conducted further investiga- right now - for everyone. Eventually, Kennel Club in Evansville, Indiana. Grace is a former Coloma resident and teacher in the Coloma school sys- tion and the matter was forwarded to however, it will get better." tem for 38 years. Pictured with Grace is her family: (front row, from the left) Joey Pierre, Ethan Messal, Jacob the Berrien County Prosecutor's While he will remain interested in the Pierre, and Grace. In the back row are: (from the left) Mark, Kelly and Owen Messal; Ashley Pierre; Judy and Office, resulting in the authorized process because of his concern for the Ed Messal; Jim, Lori and Josh Pierre; and Indy Messal. charges. The subject was to have a district, Levstek said, he will not be (Contributed photo) preliminary hearing on Tuesday, directly responsible for the next Please share your good news with the readers of the November 17; however, a closed court round. Levstek is retiring December Tri-City Record; E-mail recordfa iZk.com or call 463-NEWS proceeding is what took place and no 31, 2009, so the next negotiations will fall on the shoulders of the new CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 An appeal for Hartford's animals made to Twp. Board By Man Brost Reck dogs are known to have come from ter noted an imbalance, with Paw Paw to act as the primary contractor to pur- Peddling Area animal strays are facing strug- the Hartford area. With each animal attending to more than 50% of the chase and spread gravel. cases. gles during these difficult economic admittance costing a minimum of $40, This, however, would require a spe- ordinance times as well, according to Al-Van the expense to take in these document- The state recommended that court cial assessment to the properties In other business, the Township is Humane Society representative Joan ed local animals comes to more than cases be drawn by lot. According to affected. The estimated cost for the review ing a draft of a new Peddlers Walker. $5,560. Freestone, this could lead to a ticket project would run about $300 per par- and Miscellaneous Occupations Ordi- In an appeal to the Hartford Township Walker reported that the success of issued to a Mattawan resident being cel per year for five years. nance, w ith wording recommended by Board on November 12, Walker noted the low-income spay/neuter program sent to the South Haven Court. "This is still just in the discussion the Township's attorney. "There are that neither Hartford City nor Town- initiated in April 2009 resulted in 128 The Commission is considering whe- phase," emphasized Sefcik. Prior to pets being sterilized, helping to ad- certain areas I'd like to see strength- ship have contributed to the animal ther or not simply having one court- any action, the Township would be dress the ongoing problem. required to hold two public hearings ened," said Sefcik. "1 will meet with shelter previously. "That wasn't really house in Paw Paw would he a better The Board will consider this request the attorney and have wording for the too much of a problem before," said alternative.