Superintendent Looks for Dialogue after KCSD Teachers Union Nixes Pay Freeze
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Keystone Central School District Substitute Superintendent Al Lonoconus is looking for “further discussion” with the school district’s teachers union after union leadership rejected a district call for a teacher pay freeze and a reduction in coaches salaries.
The membership of the Association of Clinton County Educators had been notified Tuesday that its leadership council had “voted not to open the contract,” adding that, “We will not be agreeing to a pay freeze or reduction in coaches salaries.” Word of that decision was released Tuesday morning on therecord-online.
The decision to not open the contract appeared to catch the school district off-guard. The office of new acting superintendent Lonoconus later Tuesday released this statement:
“Keystone Central School District Administration was taken by surprise today when the news was announced by union leadership that they will not take a pay freeze in light of the current budget challenge.
“Substitute Superintendent Dr. Allan Lonoconus has not had the opportunity to meet with or speak to union membership since assuming his role mid-week last week.
“Dr. Lonoconus is still looking forward to working with the union through the budget process and hopes that their leadership is open to having further discussion. The goal is that all parties involved can reach a consensus that will not only meet budget concerns but continue to provide the highest level of education to the students of Keystone Central School District.”
The school board had been hopeful the ACCE would have its membership agree to a freeze for the next two years, part of a proposed freeze for all district employees. District teachers are scheduled to receive a 3 percent pay hike as part of the already-existing contract executed in late 2016 between Keystone Central and its teachers.
The district had included the prospective pay freeze as one of a number of options to whittle away at a $7 million deficit in its 2018-19 budget.
