Pocono News Section

Strike Leaves Vo-Tech Students in Limbo

Strike Leaves Vo-Tech Students in Limbo - Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 11:15AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 @ 11:15am EDT
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Hundreds of area students who normally attend vo-tech classes weren't able to do that, Thursday.

That's because teachers are into the second day of a strike at Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County.
A picket line instead of a classroom.
Some of the 36 teachers at Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County are off the job.
It started Wednesday afternoon, but Thursday classes were the first to be canceled because of the strike.
Nearly 700-students are affected.

"We're teaching a trade. This is a lifelong skill. These students are with us for 3-hours each day. And they're dedicated," said AFT Local #3878 President Yolanda Martinelli.

Jared Stankiewicz is a senior at Mid Valley High School in Throop.
He also attends CTC as part of a classroom and in-the-field co-op program.
The strike means he doesn't know how long it will be before he gets more hands-on experience at learning the plumbing and heating trade.
"I hope we don't have to stay here. I don't want to sit here the whole day," said Stankiewicz. "I like going to work and doing plumbing and everything."

And students aren't the only ones who hope the CTC strike ends quickly. So do superintendents who are forced to juggle students into some kind of a productive schedule.
"We're going to try to give them electives and, you know, graphics, computers, child care," said Mid Valley School District Superintendent Randy Parry. "We have electives in those areas but obviously they're not the specific classes that the CTC can offer."

Students may have to face another option.
"We might just have to sit in the library and do a project or something. I don't really want to do that," said Stankiewicz.
And superintendents realize staffing could become a potential problem to handle extra students who would otherwise attend vo-tech.
"Uh, it could be... depending on how long this lasts," said Parry.

The union knows students become pawns in this labor dispute.
"They're eager to come and learn," said Martinelli. "And I want to get back to my classroom. My students are my extended family. And they need me."

No bargaining talks are scheduled.
Career Technology Center Administrator Vince Nallo declined to comment on camera but told Eyewitness News on the phone that the board may get together in the coming days to discuss what's next.