Education Association to 'Take Every Step Possible' Following Moon Layoffs

One week after the approved a series of furloughs, an education union official said district support staffers "didn't see the layoffs coming." 

"It's just really, really surprising," said Butch Santicola, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, of the staffing revisions. "There is no sound reason to do this in Moon. The district was not in financial trouble." 

Santicola said union members plan to meet on July 9 to discuss taking action against the district in light of a series of hour reductions and layoffs in June. 

Santicola declined to specify what action the union may take, but said "everything option is on the table." Support staff union members' contracts with the district prohibit a strike, he said. 

"We're going to take every legal step possible for the protection of our members," Santicola said. "We have to defend our members."  

The Moon Area School District said in a that furloughs will impact 18 special education positions, 6 library assistants, 5 clerical positions, 6 nurse/health assistants and 14 cafeteria workers. Three extended-day kindergarten positions will also be eliminated, as the district transitions to a

In total, 52 positions will be furloughed. The district is re-opening 49 positions for re-hire, which employees can bid on. Union contracts stipulate positions must be furloughed and then re-opened after hours are revised. 

The staffing changes will save the district $425,000 in the upcoming school year. The union contends the layoffs were an unnecessary measure, Santicola said. 

In June, the board approved a $62,356,449 for the 2012-2013 year with no tax increase. 

"This really has us concerned," Santicola said. "We all came a long way back from the (Moon Area School District's 2010 teachers') strike. Everyone worked hard to come back. And now we have this." 

School board president Sandra McCurdy said in a statement that decisions to cut hours and positions from the district "weigh heavily on this board and they are not easy decisions to make." 

McCurdy said the stagnant economy and rising district costs necessitated the staffing revisions. 

From McCurdy's statement on the cuts: 

"The continued increase in contracted salaries and benefits and the pension liability that looms have required the board of education to scrutinize every opportunity.  It is clear that to keep tax increases at bay, difficult decisions must be made in order to insure the stability and sustainability of the district.  The furloughs that were issued were part of that process.  The furloughs were issued at this time as a result of the (Moon Education Association) support staff union contract.  There will then be a bid meeting and the majority of those individuals furloughed can bid for another position." 

Santicola said he has already met with a group of impacted district employees about the revisions. 

"So now instead of a four-hour position, someone might have a two-hour position," Santicola said. "We've got people who love their job and want to get back to work. When I asked people in the room 'How many of you live in Moon?' almost 100 percent of the hands went up. This is affecting the community." 

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