Special Weather Statement issued March 19 at 4:28AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
Gusty winds from 35 to 40 mph this afternoon could blow around unsecured items. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor items.
Today 53° Today 53° 32° 32° Tomorrow 41° Tomorrow 41° 21° 21°
Thursday, October 9th, 2008

Minster school board and teachers agree to contract with pay raise

By Margie Wuebker
MINSTER - Minster Local Schools board of education met briefly Wednesday night with just one item on the agenda - approval of a two-year contract with the Minster Teachers Association.
Teachers, who worked more than 95 days without a contract, will receive a 3 percent salary increase the first year retroactive to the June 30 expiration of the previous pact. There will be a 2.85 percent raise the second year.
This marks the first wage increase since the 2003 contract when teachers received raises ranging from 3 to 3.65 percent over three years. They opted to take no increases, other than step raises, in 2006 and 2007 due to financial constraints.
As for insurance, teachers will continue to pay 5 percent of insurance costs through Dec. 31 of this year with the contribution rate climbing to 6.5 percent next year and 7.5 percent for the period of Jan. 1-June 30, 2010.
Teachers voted Monday night on the proposed contract. Paul Winglewich, co-president of the teachers association, confirmed this morning the vote was not unanimous. Although he declined to give the final vote total, he indicated there were double digit nays and obviously a majority of yeahs.
"The teachers did not say the deal was good and they did not say it was bad," Winglewich stated. "They felt it was acceptable."
School board President Jeff Monnin admitted the negotiating session turned out to be a long process with both sides considering the state of the economy and the school district's financial situation.
"We were able to give raises that fit into our budget," Monnin said. "Everyone is happy to have this behind us and to get back to doing what we do best - educating youth."
Negotiations between representatives of the board and the teachers association began March 3, nearly four months before the June 30 expiration date. Federal mediator Kevin Moyer of Toledo was brought in during an Aug. 14 negotiating session with no agreement reached.
More than 120 people attended a Sept. 22 meeting to voice support for local teachers and to listen as the board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding extending the contract to Oct. 31.
A tentative agreement was reached Oct. 2 during a marathon session that commenced at 4:30 and ended shortly before 10:30 p.m. In addition to Moyar, others assisting with negotiations were Shelley Jackson, a representative of the Ohio Education Association, and Julie Martin, the board's attorney with the Columbus law firm of Scott, Scriven & Wahoff LLP.
Members of the school negotiating team included Sherman, fellow board member Mike Hoelscher and Superintendent Gayl Ray. Treasurer Laura Klosterman sat in on some of the sessions. Representing the certified staff with Winglewich were Pat Baumer and Larry Topp.
Additional online stories on this date
Nicholas Schwieterman appeared in Mercer County Common Pleas Court this morning and was found guilty of six charges stemming from a March 15 crash that claimed the lives of four area teenagers. [More]
Officials seeking public's help
Officials are hoping new technology and public input will help them identify a murdered woman whose nude and decomposed body was found in a cornfield 38 years ago near Arcanum. [More]
MINSTER - Much like track and cross country, Minster High School is building a strong tradition in golf.
The boys golf team, after a one-year absence, makes it back to the Division III state tournament this week at The Players Club at Foxfire Golf Club in Lockbourne. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
MARIA STEIN - Voters in the Marion Local school district will decide the fate of a 2.2-mill operating levy officials say is needed to maintain current services.
The Daily Standard is publishing election stories through Nov. 1.
Listed below is the schedule of stories and dates of publication. All of these stories and this list of dates also will appear on our Web site, www.dailystandard.com.
ST. MARYS - Call it the Ruedebusch/Menchhofer plan or call it "iRead, SMCS Rocks the Books." Either way its focus is to get struggling readers motivated and on track.
NEW BREMEN - Long-time school treasurer Deb Meyer was given a nearly five-year contract extension on Wednesday night during the regular board meeting.
Board of education members unanimously approved Meyer's contract extension by four years and seven months, effective Jan. 1, 2009.
Music professor Jim Davis wins more than $30,000
A former professor at Wright State University-Lake Campus became a Jeopardy! champion on the game show Wednesday.
Jim Davis, a former music profess
With only three games remaining in the regular season, opportunities for teams to gain computer points are winding down.
There is not a team in t
St. Marys senior Trevor Kill will be heading to Arizona next week to take part in the Arizona Senior Fall Classic, a top baseball tournament and scouting combine featuring top players from around the nation.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The Celina girls tennis tandem of Kinzie Gardner and Sara Dorsten are one win away from advancing to the Division I state tennis tournament next week after winning their first two matches in district play at Sandusky High School on Wednesday.
St. Marys at Shawnee
While the Roughriders have dominated the all-time series with a 33-12-1 record, the last four years have been battles with each team taking two wins.
The contest will pit two of the best running games in the WBL with the teams ranked 1-2 in the league.
Streaky - Celina fans should have a good feeling for the Bulldogs to beat Bath this week.
Over the past six seasons, the Bulldogs have had a two-ga
After starting the season with six consecutive losses, the Celina football team has a good chance to make it two wins in a row.
Lima Bath will be the opponent on Friday for Celina as the Bulldogs will be celebrating senior night in the final home game of the season for the Bulldogs.
MINSTER - Linus "Linie" Hausfeld, former owner of Hausfeld Motor Sales, remembers when the first autumn frost brought people flocking to the business to make sure their vehicles were ready for the onslaught of cold weather.