AUGUST 19, 1970 Board Representatives Agreed a State Mediation Board Hearing Negotiating There, but Ritchie 15 CENTS Wednesday (Aug
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j*/'!***i'i';*:*S;*ft*:*ft'i^ •-••*•*•'-*• ....•» ,. • • •. • .". w.w.v.v.v. w,v,v« • .v.v.v.v.Wiy. & Mediator called in on St. Johns teacher talks 1 By RON KARLE like we'll probably have to look at mediation. Agerstrand said the teachers had proposed a base (start the opening of school." Editor The State Labor Mediation Board had designated Ed ing) salary of $7,600 which "was not our final offer." Lancaster said that the teachers had first sought a base Connors to come Into St. Johns at the request of both ( But, he added, "we haven't gotten movement from the starting salary of $8,000 and that the board had "countered It appeared early this week that contract talks between parties. board. They've hung on to $7,420 as a base and then indi with $7,420 before the teachers came back with $7,600. - the St. Johns Education Association and the Board of Salary Is the biggest problem," Agerstrand told the News cated mediation, so we said ok." Friday. Last year's starting salary was $7,000. Education would resume with the assistance of a state A week ago Agerstrand charged the board with "dragging mediator. , "We are trying to maintain flexibility in order to arrive Five other areas of contention cited by Lancaster were at a settlement that both sides can live with," he added, "I its feet" and publicly said "the only recourse Is submission a change in the grievance procedure, class size policy, Although arrangements for a mediator had been made indicated to Earl that we were going to be as flexible as of our proposals to mediation" as a possible way out of the sabbatical leave, longevity pay and fringe benefits. several days ago, both sides had expressed hope before the possible. We're aware of the district's financial condition "impasse." Agerstrand said Friday there was much feeling, both pro Said Lancaster: weekend that enough progress might be made at a meeting and we are going to live within the financial limits of the * "Since the board had already agreed to accept 185 work district. and con, over "whether or not this should be in the press. Monday to'offset the necessity of outside help. ing days, to shorten the work day by 25 minutes, to com '.<• "We weren't very happy at the prospects of going to But when you reach an impasse such as this, the public But after the meeting Monday, Supt, Earl Lancaster should know." pletely cover the hospitalization insurance program at a w mediation," said Agerstrand. "We thought we could settle said, It looks like we'll go right to mediation." cost of $38,000 and had offered to pay a salary schedule before." Lancaster, who has been meeting with the teachers' comparable to and above some other communities at a cost Chuck Agerstrand, president of the teacher's association But, he said, If settlement had not been reached, "we group along with school board members William Richards of $130,000, it was felt by members that this was a fair also showed little optimism that a settlement would be faced the possibility of not getting a mediator prior to the and .Fred Meyer, issued a statement Friday in response and equitable settlement. reached before next Monday when the mediator Is scheduled opening of school," to the association's charge of foot-dragging. "However," he added, "because the members of the to meet with both sides. School Is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, Sept. 2 with Citing six' major differences, Lancaster said that "the teachers' committee did not share this vleWj it was agreed •I'm not sure how good at this point chances are for half-day sessions set for some grades on the day before parents and taxpayers have the right to know the reasons that an impasse had been reached and mediation was agreed settlement before mediation," said Agerstrand, *lt looks that and teacher meetings for Monday, Aug. 31. for the so-called impasse which could result in a delay in upon." DeWitt teachers, ed board differ on 170 paragraphs ByTIMYOUNKMAN tion (DEA) and school Supt. James Connors indicated that 15 to News Staff Writer Ritchie agreed to meet Tuesday, 20 unresolved items would be a Wednesday and Thursday eve full schedule for mediation. DeWitt teachers and school nings, Aug. 18-20 after attending '"He suggested that we begin 115th Year, No. 16 ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1970 board representatives agreed a state mediation board hearing negotiating there, but Ritchie 15 CENTS Wednesday (Aug. 12) to meet in Lansing. said he didn't have a lot of time for three more bargaining ses DEA representatives said the to spend," the DEA spokesman n sions this week in an effort to state mediator, EdwardConnors, said. draft a workable contract before was presented with a list of "over Ritchie was not available for the Sept, 1 school opening. 170 unresolved paragraphs" in comment Monday. Police clear suspect The DeWittEducationAssocla- the disputed teachers contract. v The formal negotiations for a new teachers' contract began June 4 with the final session Must go to board ending Aug. 6. At that time the in DeWitt Twp. slaying two parties had agreed on only A man, unnamed by police, outside the possibility of "a 18 points, none of which were has been cleared and released casual hitchhiker* who might the major issues. after questioning in the slaying have been given a ride by Har Proposal approved No terms have been reached of a Wolverine Stockyard em rington between 1 a.m. and 2:30 on salary changes, insurance ploye, State Police said Monday. a.m. policies, class size, binding ar The man passed a polygraph "We haven't ruled out anything by teachers at O-E bitration, minority contributions (lie detector) test last weekafter and will check on anything that and agency shop. police learned that he had dif comes to light," Glassford said. A two-year contract providing Teachers with a bachelor's de If no agreement is reached ferences with the victim, John He said that any citizen who for salary increases, full health gree and 20 semester hours com after the three sessions, the mat Harrington, 49, 1721 Lenore St., might have seen Harrington dur and hospital insurance and "im pleted toward a master's degree ter will return to the state medi Lansing, who was found stabbed ing the one and one-half hour proved" agency shop clause which will receive salaries ranging ator Aug. 25. to death Aug. 5 along a deserted period should contact the East requires all teachers to join the from $7,650to $11,650, compared In a related matter Thursday, stretch of Stoll Road near Chand Lansing post at 120-332-2521. education association, was ap to $7,250 to $10,550. Ritchie agreed to furnish the ler Road in DeWitt Township. Harrington was found by a proved by the Ovid-Elsie Educa Salary range for teachers with passer-by at 2:40 a.m. Aug. 5 school district's financial infor Det. Calvin Glassford of the tion Association last week. a master's de_gree isfrom$7,800 mation to the DEA, after the He was slumped in -his parked to $12,000, compared to$7,500to East Lansing Post said the sus auto on Stoll Road, one-third of The new pact was ratified at a teachers' group filed charges of pect had "no business" relations special meeting Thursday night, $10,800. unfair labor practices against a mile east of Chandler Road. Teachers with a master's and with Harrlngtbn, but did t&ve a He had been working &\ a according to Robert Lloyd, chief the DeWitt Board of Education "personal dislike" fortheylctim, negotiator for the association; 30 hours' towards an advanced July 30. Future Farmers of Amerjca'live- The proposal has not yet re degree will receive salaries The agreement came after a "There was nothing to impli stock sale at the St. Johns stock yards Aug. 4 and later attended ceived approval of the board of ranging from $8,000 to $13,250, public hearing before the Mich cate him," Glassford said, but - education which is expected to compared to $8,000 to $11,300. igan EmploymentRelationsCom- we decided to conduct a polygraph a banquet with his wife at Daley's consider it at the next board "We do have economic issues mission (MERC) in Lansing. test "just to clear this area." Restaurant, where he was last seen alive. meeting. which will be reopened next Raymond Unger, DEA negotia With the clearing of the sus The new pact calls for a $500 year," said Lloyd. "These are tor, said the charges were filed pect, Glassford said that they Police reports indicated that annual increase in starting mainly salary, fringe benefits and after Ritchie's "refusal to re have received "no new leads or Mrs. Harrington had left the din salaries forteacherswithabach- payable extras." lease school district financial re information." ner party earlier In the evening elor's degree and $800 hike for He said there may be two other ports and faculty salary informa He added that the state police and the victim followed shortly teachers at the top of the 11- issues which either party, the tion pertinent to negotiations." are still looking for a reason after 1 a.m. step scale. board or the association, may When presented with the The newrangeisfrom$7,500to also reopen. charges, Ritchie "capitulated" $H,000 compared to last year's There are 24 a r t i c 1 e s which and "agreed to provide thefinan- contract which ranged from either side may designate to be Revised curfew is $7,000 to $10,300.