Pocono News Section

Finally the Last Day of School at Lake-Lehman

Finally the Last Day of School at Lake-Lehman - Friday, June 27, 2008 at 6:22PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Friday, Jun 27, 2008 @ 06:22pm EST
LEHMAN TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY- The last day of class is finally here for students at the Lake-Lehman School District. An ongoing labor dispute between the teachers and the school board prevented students from getting out of school on time.

Kids here headed to class more than two weeks after they were supposed to be dismissed for the summer. Adam Supey is a sophomore at Lake Lehman. He told Eyewitness News, "It feels like we've been going forever. It's been really long. It's not much fun, because we could be out having fun this summer."

Students are making up for last October's 22 day teachers' strike. That's when educators hit the picket lines looking for better wages and a new health care package. They've worked without a contract since the summer of 2006. JoAnne Taras is a parent who supports the teachers. She said, "Teachers should be respected for what they do. They've been without a contract. They should not have to go through that again, and especially the kids are losing out."

Students say the extended class time is cutting into their college orientation, work schedules and more. Senior Eli Foss said, "It really screwed me up for work and everything."

Senior Adam Patla added, "Being in the Navy, goes back on going to the office and seeing the recruiter, screwed up our schedules for work."

Parents’ attitudes vary by household. Ray Spriggs said, "It bothers me more than my son. I mean it doesn't bother him as much. To me it's ridiculous, but they say 180 days is 180 days."

JoAnne Taras stated, "If you can stand in a group of 30 kids and sink a lesson plan into their brains, that's admirable."

The teachers' union and the school board haven't been in negotiations for the last month. Lake-Lehman seniors graduated Friday night.