Educators keep silent in school board meeting

KINNIKINNICK — Teachers and members of the Zane Trace Education Association were expected to speak out at Monday night's Zane Trace Local Schools board of education meeting concerning salary negotiations, however no formal comments were made to the board this month.

The ZTEA is expected to return to the table for more negotiations, with a school board representative present, on Oct. 26.

Co-presidents Leah Davis and Christal Mercer said they took the negotiation of a zero percent raise the first year to see "what would happen" with the school's levy. Now, they said, they have been negotiating wages for a year and a half, and that this year marks the seventh year in a row teachers have gone without a raise. According to Mercer and Davis, teachers could also see a zero percent raise over the next two years, as well.

While neither chose to address the board Monday night, they did say a federal mediator could be involved in a future meeting.

Other discussion items:

• Zane Trace fourth-graders social studies standardized test scores came in at 83 percent efficient, 13 percent above the state average. 
• Athletic Director Allen Koker brought up the football field could be getting new sod laid as early as next week. A company based in Lancaster gave Koker an estimate of $22,325 on the project this week. The project would be paid for from the athletic account. Koker expects to move forward with the project that would lay sod on the from goal post to goal post down the center of the field, between hash marks, possibly next week. The rest of the field, he said, was in good enough shape that it would not need to be replaced with sod. Zane Trace has a chance to host their first ever playoff game this season. 
• Discussion was held concerning the change in reserved seating ticket prices for football games. Koker said he would handle any questions on the changes. 
• The board approved multiple new additions to the girls basketball program's coaching staff. 
• The board voted to approve new bus routes for the 2015-16 school year that eliminated one route and driver. The board also approved the retirement of James Bryan as a full time bus driver, effective Dec. 31.