W-b Man Charged In Store Robbery 
Several Other Robberies With A Similar Pattern Are Still Under Investigation,
Police Say.

Andrew Fetsko

By CHRISTINA DUBITSKY cdubitsky@leader.net
 Wednesday, May 23, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 6A 





KINGSTON - The Wyoming Valley West School Board on Tuesday approved a
tentative 2001/2002 budget that will not increase taxes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The proposed budget, which totals $40,949,127, is available for public
inspection at the administrative office at 450 N. Maple Ave. in Kingston. The
board expects to adopt it at its June meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ``Financial affairs are very sound,'' said board President Barry Williams.
The board has approved teachers and support staff contracts and plans to adopt
an administrators contract, all on favorable terms to the taxpayers, Williams
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The millage rate will remain at 212 mills. A mill is a $1 tax on every on
$1,000 of assessed property value. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In other business, board member James Youngblood said he did not believe
James Fender took a book in which teacher tardiness had been reported. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fender has said high school Principal Irv DeRemer and Assistant Principal
Herbert Pearson had been marking tardy teachers, including the
superintendent's wife, in a book, but Superintendent Andrew Marko ordered them
to stop. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fender also has said it was inaccurately stated in published reports that
he took the book. The information was based on an unidentified source, Fender
said. ``I believe there is no source. I believe the reporter made this up.''
He said he plans to take legal recourse. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Williams said he believes the teacher tardiness issue has been resolved. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It was a very minor event that was blown out of proportion,'' he said
after the meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fender also asked board Solicitor Michael Hudacek a series of questions
about a closed meeting two weeks ago with the superintendent and two
administrators regarding a grievance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Why was the meeting perceived to be strictly confidential?'' Fender
asked. ``At any time did you take an adversarial position and demand
administrators lie in order to accuse me of wrongdoing?'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hudacek denied doing anything wrong. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fender would not be specific after the meeting about why he asked the
questions. He would only say it will become clear when other information comes
out. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Christina Dubitsky, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at
829-7236. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wvw Plans To Hold Line On Taxes School Board Member Denounces Statement That He Took Book In Which Tardy Teachers Listed.