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Sunshine boosts attendance at Oktoberfest See Page 1-C

Local church to host exhibit on mental illness See Page 2-A

Help for Raechel raising money for stem cell transplant See Page 4-A

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Saline Reporter
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 Weave the Web:
The contracts with the Saline Area Schools Directors Association and the Saline Area Schools Administrative Association are for two years, said Curt Ellis, executive director for human resources for the school district. The deals end the bargaining phase for the school district after having reached new deals with the teachers and support staff unions. The contract talks worked around health care, Superintendent Scot Graden said. They understood we needed to seek concessions, he said. Among the other highlights are an eight-year pay structure, instead of five, Ellis said. This means it will take a principal or administrator eight years to reach the top of the pay scale, instead of five years. The switch is designed to reward those who continue with the district, he said. Both unions agreed to a furlough day and a pay freeze, he said. Retirement stipends will be sun-setted out. Board of Education President Lisa Slawson praised Graden and Ellis for their work on getting the contracts settled. You have worked tirelessly, she said. You have turned us back into a collaborative environment. The new contracts also give employees three options for health care. While there was some concern this would place an administrative burden on staff, Ellis downplayed the question and noted workers will now have the option to see how their healthcare dollars are spent. Staff Writer Jim Pruitt can be reached at 734-429-7380, jpruitt@heritage.com or via Twitter @jamespruitt. Text HERNews and HER-Weather to 22700 to receive news and weather alerts to your cell-phone. Msg and data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

The

Your Hometown Newspaper

75

VOL. 62, NO. 40

Board approves contract with admins, principals

It will now take longer to reach top of pay scale
By Jim Pruitt
Heritage Media

Make sure to click on www.heritage.com around the clock for the most in-depth coverage. See our Most Viewed story, Game Review: Borderlands 2 among best all-time co-op shooters

The Saline school district has settled its two remaining contracts with its administrators and principals. The Board of Education approved the new contracts Sept. 25 at its regular board meeting at Saline Middle School.

Check out our video:

Harvest of the Arts Oktoberfest Firemens Challenge Chili Cook-off

Main Street manager Idzikowski resigns

Board votes to ll position as soon as possible
By Jim Pruitt
Heritage Media

On the eve of Oktoberfest last weekend, Saline Main Street was looking for a new manager. The Saline Main Street board of directors accepted the resignation of Kelly Idzikowski Sept. 24. It is effective immediately. The board voted to fill the position as soon as possible. Main Street Saline hired Idzikowski earlier this year after the organization gained official Main Street status by the state in February. Kelly just realized that this really wasnt a good fit for her, Main Street Chairwoman Cindy Czbuko stated in an via e-mail. We

really wish her the best in finding the position that will fulfill her passions. Idzikowskis departure wasnt expected to impact the weekends Oktoberfest/ Harvest of the Arts festivities, Czbuko said. Oktoberfest/Harvest of the Arts is volunteerdriven by the Saline Main Street volunteers and the Saline Downtown Merchants Association, Czbuko said. Kelly helped get the word out early on, but volunteers have been managing the rest and we are ready to have a great festival. Saline Main Streets purpose is to make the downtown area the social, cultural and economic hub of the community. Next up for the organization will be work plans of projects identified by

Click on the jobs tab on the home page of our h e i t go . c o m website ror a g edirectly to http://jobs.heritage.com.

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Photo by Jim Pruitt

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Schools get settlement over bond rates

Saline school district to receive $600K
By Jim Pruitt
Heritage Media

Former Saline Main Street Manager Kelly Idzikowski addresses the Saline City PLEASE SEE IDZIKOWSKI/X-A Council in July. Idzikowski resigned Sept. 24.

Finances dominated discussions at the Sept. 25 Saline Board of Education meeting. Two out-of-court settlements over improper interest rates on

bonds sold in 2002 will bring nearly $600,000 to the school district. The Board of Education voted to accept the settlements. The money will go into the 2002 bond debt fund. The money is the districts share from settlements USB AG and Wachovia, NA, reached with 26 state attorneys general in a lawsuit. The suit stated the financial institutions and their agents falsely represented their municipal and government

clients in selling bonds at a lessthan-advantageous rate. The settlement also releases the school from any claims in a class-action lawsuit in federal court. Saline Schools Finance Director Janice Warner recommended the board approve the settlements. She said the money reflects the difference in the funds the district could have received had the proper interest
PLEASE SEE BONDS/X-A
Photo by Jim Pruitt

Saline Finance Director Janice Warner talks about the bond settlements with the Saline Board of Education at a meeting Sept. 25.

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News Tip Hotline 429-7380

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E-mail: editor@salinereporter.com
tor from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 31. The lab offers help on writing press releases, setting up social media accounts, blogging, editing video and creating photo slideshows, among other things, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email co mmunitymedialab@heritage.com or call 1267-229-6037 for more information.

BRIEFLY...
Workshops set at Community Media Lab: The Community Media Lab, located at 215 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti, is offering free workshops through the end of October. Leslie McGraw will present Blogging for writers, journalists and photographers,

from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 4; Doug Bauman, photographer and videographer at The Oakland Press, will present a workshop on photography and video from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 12; Blogging for nonprot and community organizations will be presented by McGraw from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18; and freelance editor Sarah Rigg will present Navigating local media, from a journalist and edi-

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