School Board Meeting Approves Teacher Pay Freeze

By Sarah Schaeffer –

Last night the Penn Manor School board held it’s public April meeting at Manor Middle School.

The board approved a new, one-year contract for teachers, after many months of debate.

This contract, beginning July 1, enforces a pay freeze for all teachers, meaning teachers will not receive raises, bonuses or any other sort of increase in salary. Though teachers will be without extra payment, it came with the assurance that no teachers will be let go in the coming year.

Dr. Leichliter, Penn Manor Superintendent.

According to Dr. Mike Leichliter, Superintendent of Penn Manor, the pay freeze will reduce the school’s budget by almost $1 million, a helpful cut in the financial challenges the district will face in the future, he said in an e-mail.

“Both sides worked diligently to come to agreement on a contract which puts the needs of the students first. At the same time we recognize the financial hardships the district and taxpayers are facing,” said Leichliter.

Discussion for a 2012-13 contract will begin by January 2012.

In other news, Vickie Miller was introduced as the new girls’ tennis coach.

Beth Dengler and Kierstin McDonald, entrepreneurship class students, presented the business plans for the junior class project and encouraged board members to support the project by buying chicken BBQ tickets.