Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for July 25, 2007 RON DRIEMEIER UPDATE

Got along before we met ya, gonna get along without you...for now at least.

From the Harrisburg Daily Register...

Interim superintendent hired in Galatia

By Brian DeNeal
Staff Writer

GALATIA - Galatia school board hired an interim superintendent and approved a tentative settlement with the Galatia Education Association during Monday night's meeting.

Ernest Felty will be serving as superintendent for two week periods as needed while a Centralia private investigating firm probes apparent allegations involving Superintendent Ron Driemeier who remains on administrative leave, school consultant Gary Siebert said.

Felty has been employed in schools for 44 years beginning in Mascoutah, then teaching five years in Carrier Mills and serving as principal and superintendent there for eight years, was superintendent in Shawneetown for 20 years seeing the consolidation of Gallatin County schools. Felty retired, but then served as superintendent of Carrier Mills for three more years and Hardin County schools for seven years.

"And here I am, back again," Felty said.

Board President Tom Patterson read a statement the board has directed its attorneys to work with the GEA to resolve the dispute over execution of the collective bargaining agreement and the dispute involving early dismissals.

The board intends to approve the agreement that was tentatively agreed to and approved by teachers in the fall of 2006 when final language is worked out by the attorneys, according to the statement provided to the district.

Board members also intend to restore early dismissal times before the three major holiday breaks.

"Once these issues have been worked out, then it is the Board of Education's understanding that both sides will withdraw their pending unfair labor practice charges filed against one another," according to the statement.

"The Board of Education would like to thank each and every member of the general public for their patience during the past 10 months while the parties privately worked through their disagreements over these matters."

The board hired special education coordinator and former Eldorado Middle School Principal Beth Rister as Galatia Elementary School principal in addition to her special education duties, Siebert said.

The board banned shoes with wheels, banned cell phones from school buildings during school hours.

The board accepted the resignation of Paul Whittaker and is advertising a position with duties of physical education, driver's education and health teaching.

The board set a special meeting for 7 p.m. Aug. 2 at the high school.