Okay pact extension for administrators pact extension

WESTFALL — Following final appeals from both sides of the issue and with six new retirement announcements from senior staff in hand, the Delaware Valley Board of Education last week approved a three-year contract extension for some 23 department supervisors and administrators. It passed by a 6-2 vote. Board President Bob Goldsack said the contract extension was due to Superintendent Candis Finan’s cost saving restructuring and consolidation of staff duties. Chief among these was consolidation of the duties of Dr. William Riker, the former director of curriculum and instruction, who left the district last November. In addition, five retirements of senior staff and faculty were announced last week. They included DVES Principal Sonya Cole, DDES Principal Dr. Richard Maags, physical education teachers Kathryn Adams and Jennifer Bennett, librarian Leslie Lacika, and English teacher Mark Robbins. Budget committee chair Ed Silverstone said he took no pleasure in not supporting the agreement, but its 5 percent salary increases, at double the rate of inflation, “will cost over three years.” Dingman-Delaware Middle School Principal Joe Caramanica said the continuity of administration at DV was “the envy of other districts.” Delaware Valley Middle School Principal Peter Ioppolo said being hired by DV was like “being drafted by the Yankees. We’re champions ....” “The administrators are the life blood of this organization,” Finan said.