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<p>Editor&#8217;s note: This story has been corrected. The photo that originally ran with this story was not of Crestwood School Board member Bill Jones.</p><p>WRIGHT TWP.&#8212; The president of the Crestwood Area School Board slammed teachers this week, saying they aren&#8217;t showing up for time they are being paid for.</p><p>Bill Jones contends the teachers are abusing weather-related two-hour delays, an abuse Jones contends has cost taxpayers $75,000.</p><p>Jones admonished teachers for not being at school at the administrative-appointed start time, but instead staying away during the two-hour delay period while collecting their salaries.</p><p>It&#8217;s a situation Jones said he is going to attack by proposing &#8220;a policy that will end this abuse.&#8221; He added that research he has done reflects, &#8220;Teachers making $45 to $93 per hour are not providing the service for which they are being paid.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Sooner or later, even the state is going to wise up to this,&#8221; said Jones.</p><p>One major rebuttal to Jones&#8217; argument came from newly elected school director Barry Boone. He said during his time in private industry, employees were paid during weather-related situations.</p><p>Jones responded that his experiences in business and industry tell him that workers are required to be on the job at the designated hour.</p><p><strong>Support staff contract</strong></p><p>Meanwhile, cafeteria workers, maintenance staff and teacher aides have agreed to a new contract extending from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2022. Terms were not discussed by the school board, but Jones said talks were conducted in a spirit &#8220;of cooperation and cordiality.&#8221;</p><p>All that&#8217;s left is for solicitor Jack Dean to conduct a review and approve the language of the pact.</p><p>In other business:</p><p>&#8226; Following a recent disruption involving a student, parent Amanda Modrovsky asked for a pre-emptive intervention program. She was told by Superintendent Joseph Gorham that such a program is already underway, &#8220;but I&#8217;m always open to comments from the public.&#8221; Modrovsky insisted, &#8220;More needs to be done.&#8221;</p><p>Gorham said last week that a male student and a female student were suspended due to separate but similar threats. He said the Wright Township Police Department was immediately involved, and no one was in any danger.</p><p>&#8226; Gorham reported that weather-related classroom makeup days have been scheduled on March 16 and March 29.</p><p>&#8226; Joseph Delluso, principal at the Rice Township school, presented an outline on the success of a pre-kindergarten program developed this term. Delluso said 18 youngsters are enrolled. He also cited statistics that reflect as many as 250 could be involved next year, when he said more classes can be added.</p><p>&#8226; Bonnie Gregory, a secondary administrator, said the &#8220;Early College&#8221; program has 141 students involved in courses at Luzerne County Community College, King&#8217;s College and Wilkes University. Gregory said the courses mainly encompass English and history. But in the case of one student, at graduation in the spring he will receive a certificate of accomplishment from LCCC in his chosen vocational field.</p><p>&#8226; The board acknowledged the adoption of a Luzerne Intermediate Unit budget that costs Crestwood $352,031, which represents a $4,000 reduction, school director Randy Swank said.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Huntington</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Crestwood school board leader slams teachers for not showing up