The Erie School District is dealing with a 26 million dollar deficit, and some teachers are already working to make an impact on the budget shortfall. Over 40 school employees have agreed to take an early retirement incentive that is expected to save the district 3.5 million dollars. School officials are also hoping that teachers will take a one year pay freeze in the coming school year. The school district is considering cutting up to 350 jobs or instituting a 4 mill tax hike to offset the deficit.
Teachers in North East may finally have an end to eight months of contract negotiations.The North East Education Association voted late yesterday on a contract to present to the school board. Details of that contract will not be made public until after the board votes today. Teachers in North East have been working without a contract since June.
Construction on a new soccer and lacrosse stadium at Penn State Behrend could get started this spring. Harborcreek Township Supervisors finished some last minute approvals on the project yesterday so that construction can begin May 1. The stadium will seat 500 with a north to south oriented field. The 1.9 million dollar project is expected to include a synthetic turf field with lighting, press box, concessions, and restroom building.
Sales at state owned liquor stores have been brisk since yesterday, the beginning of a clearance sale on items that were being discontinued. Over 400 different wines and liquors that will no longer be carried by the state stores are flying off the shelves at reduced prices. For a complete list of products and prices, click here.
Irving Portnoy, attorney for Eileen Donich of Cleveland, has filed documents to delay indefinitely a trial in a lawsuit against UPMC Hamot. The lawsuit claims that Hamot wrongly allowed a surrogate mother to take home triplets fathered by Donich’s late husband, James Flynn. Flynn passed away last month, and Donich may not go through with the lawsuit because it would take her time away from the triplet boys, who are now 7 years old.
Sports
The deadline for NFL owners and players to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement is midnight tonight, when the current agreement expires. Though talks have been ongoing, no labor agreements have yet been reached and a lockout for next season is expected.
The Otters rookie goaltender Chris Festarini came up big last night during a 4-1 win over the Niagara IceDogs. Festarini made 23 saves, and Phil Varone and Brett Thompson each had a goal and two assists to lead the offense. Last night’s win clinched a spot in the 2011 OHL Playoffs for the Otters. Individual tickets for the 2011 OHL Playoffs will go on sale starting at the first intermission of Sunday afternoon’s game against the Sarnia Sting. Tickets will only be available at the Erie Civic Center Box Office until the end of the game. Tickets will then be on sale starting at 10:00 Monday morning at all outlets. Tickets can be ordered through Ticketmaster, the Civic Center Box Office, online at ottershockey.com or by calling 814-452-4857.
The McDowell girls basketball team are District 10 Class AAAA champions again. The Trojans earned the honor in a 58-32 victory over East yesterday. East also advanced to PIAA play, and will be back on the court Tuesday for a state play-in against the WPIAL’s fifth seed.
Events
The Erie Sport and Travel Expo opens Friday at the Bayfront Convention Center. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The expo will feature a family ice fishing class, wildlife shows, a live trout pond, and lots of great information for the hunter and fisherman. Admission is $7, and children 10 and younger are free.
