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Wilkes-Barre Mayor George considering layoffs to balance 2018 budget

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More property-assessment reductions settled in Luzerne County

<p>DALLAS TWP. &#8212; With a potential teachers strike postponed, the Dallas School District opened classes Wednesday.</p><p>The Dallas Education Association had set a strike date for Tuesday, the first day back for instructional staff. But with negotiations on a new contract turning somewhat positive of late, a potential strike was recently pushed back to Friday, Sept. 22, according to union leaders.</p><p>Many parents were happy the school year began without delay.</p><p>&#8220;I am glad it did start on time,&#8221; said Bianca Borelli, a mother of a Wycallis Elementary student. &#8220;I hope it (any strike) doesn&#8217;t last too long.&#8221;</p><p>Dallas teachers went on strike for 22 days last November and a threat of a second strike shadowed the remainder of the 2016-17 school year, which didn&#8217;t end until June 30.</p><p>The protracted labor strife, though, was hardly relevant for the many youngsters Wednesday who were attending school for the first time.</p><p>First-grader Jack Williams was a little nervous about going to Wycallis for the first day, said mother Kari Williams.</p><p>&#8220;He was lagging this morning,&#8221; she said.</p><p>To calm back-to-school jitters, Wycallis Elementary and Dallas Elementary schools held an open house and Meet the Teacher nights, said Wycallis Principal Brian Bradshaw.</p><p>&#8220;Students can tour the building, see their classrooms and meet their teachers,&#8221; Bradshaw said.</p><p>The Williams family took advantage of the events and Jack discovered &#8220;he knew about five kids in his class,&#8221; said Kari.</p><p>Meanwhile, Borelli said her daughter, second-grader Isabella, was excited to return to school Wednesday morning.</p><p>&#8220;We had a smooth start,&#8221; said Borelli.</p><p>&#8220;As always, there were some children upset about leaving mom and dad,&#8221; noted Principal Bradshaw. &#8220;But it often seems like there are more parents upset than children.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Lily Morse and Alexandra Vinnacombe, both in second grade, make their way into Wycallis Elementary School on the first day of class for the Dallas School District on Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_TTL091017firstday1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Lily Morse and Alexandra Vinnacombe, both in second grade, make their way into Wycallis Elementary School on the first day of class for the Dallas School District on Wednesday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Amiee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_TTL091017firstday3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Second-grader Benjamin Graham hides behind mom Shannon at Wycallis Elementary School on the first day of class in the Dallas School District. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_TTL091017firstday3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Second-grader Benjamin Graham hides behind mom Shannon at Wycallis Elementary School on the first day of class in the Dallas School District. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader</caption1><photoCredit1>Amiee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_FirstDayMain.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Melissa Ostroski tries to console daughter Olivia on the first day of kindergarten at Wycallis Elementary School. The Dallas School District started classes Wednesday as the threat of another teachers strike loomed. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_FirstDayMain.cmyk_.jpg</photo2><caption2>Melissa Ostroski tries to console daughter Olivia on the first day of kindergarten at Wycallis Elementary School. The Dallas School District started classes Wednesday as the threat of another teachers strike loomed. </caption2><photoCredit2>Amiee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_FirstDayIfWeNeedIt.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Julia Hoegg gives her father, Jon, a kiss before heading to her first-grade classroom at Wycallis Elementary on the first day of class Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_FirstDayIfWeNeedIt.cmyk_.jpg</photo3><caption3>Julia Hoegg gives her father, Jon, a kiss before heading to her first-grade classroom at Wycallis Elementary on the first day of class Wednesday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Amiee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Eileen Godin</p><p>egodin@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

With strike still looming, Dallas School District welcomes back students