Heppner gazette-times., December 23, 1992, Image 1

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Technicalities hold up teacher contract
HEPPNER
35C
azette
imes
VOL. 111 NO. 51 8 Pages Wednesday, December 23, 1992 Morrow County Heppner, Oregon
Czechoslovakian couple purchase Office Cafe in lone
The
CAFE
The Novaks, back, l-r: Gabriella and Bob, front-Luci and Gabi
The Office Cafe in lone is
under new ownership. Bob and
Gabriella Novak are the new
owners and have been in lone
since November 3.
The Novaks, most recently
from Hillsboro, escaped from
communist Czechoslovakia 12
years ago. Bob, 49, and
Gabriella. 40. who came from
Prague, arranged their escape by
first going to Yugoslavia on
“ vacation” . G abriella is
somewhat reluctant to go into the
dangers of their escape. In
Yugoslavia they went to the
Austrian embassy and were able
to get a visa to go to Austria. In
Austria they lived in a refugee
camp in Vienna, awaiting an in­
terview with the U.S. am­
bassador. After four months there
they finally got their interview
and after five and a-half months
they were granted permission to
come to the U.S.
The Novaks arrived in the U.S.
with two suitcases and no
English. “ It was very tough,”
said Gabriella, who now speaks
English very well. After their ar­
rival in the U.S.. they were sent
to another refugee camp in Penn-
syvania where they waited for a
sponsor. They finally got a spon­
sor in Hillsboro and moved there.
Since their arrival in the U.S.
the Novaks have also lived in
L.A. Bob is a master tiler and,
in addition to tiling homes
featured in the Portland “ Street
of Dreams" he has tiled homes
in Hollywood. Bob is hoping to
continue his tiling business in the
lone area, tiling floors,
bathrooms and countertops.
The Novaks, who have two
children, Gabi, nine and Lucie,
four, found out about The Office
Cafe in an ad in the Oregonian.
They were looking for a change
in their lives and decided to come
to lone. “ We are not from big
cities,” said Gabriella. “ We
were looking for a smaller place
where our kids could be safe,”
she added. "The kids couldn’t
even go out to play. We think we
will be happy here. Our kids are
happy.” The Novaks sold their
home in Hillsboro so they could
buy the Cafe.
“ We’re working very hard to
stay in O reg o n ,” added
Gabriella. who says that Oregon
is a little like Czechoslovakia.
“ That’s probably why we feel
like we’re home.”
After a 30 year career in the
construction business, Gabriella
says that Bob, who “ never”
cooked at home, is adjusting to
the cafe and is even cooking ham­
burgers. The Novaks say they
eventually hope to make some in­
terior and exterior changes to The
Office and incorporate some
Czech food into the menu. “ I try
to juggle between American and
Czech food,” notes Gabriella,
adding that she tries to put food
on the menu that people will
know and like. One popular
specialty is strudel, which they
feature from time to time.
The Office will continue to
operate every day of the week ex­
cept Tuesdays. Daily hours are
from 5:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and
Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Former owners, Faith and John
Jordan will continue to operate
the Woolery House Bed and
Breakfast. Faith will also con­
tinue her beauty salon business.
The Jordans may be reached at
422-7218.
M edical board has p osition open
The Morrow County Court an­
nounces that there is a position
opening on the Morrow County
Medical Board. All positions on
the eight person board are at-large
but with emphasis on representa­
tion from each of the five com­
munities in the county, said Mor­
row County Judge Louis Carlson.
The current at-large position
would represent the community
of lone. Qualifications for those
interested in filling this position
should include an interest in such
services as doctor retention,
hospital and clinic issues, medical
services to all members of the
county, ambulance services and
other related policy making deci­
sions. he said.
C urrent members o f the
medical board are Pam Sagely
and Merle Cowctt. Heppner; Bill
Sheirbon, Lexington; Ray
Michael and Roger Cash. Board-
man and Lori Pruitte and Roger
Trueax. Irrigon.
The terms of office are four
years for all members with stag­
gered expiration dates. The un­
filled position is due to expire
June 1993. Those interested may
contact Judge Carlson by written
notice at the County Court
House. PO Box 788. Heppner.
After many months of bargain­
ing, the Morrow County School
District and its teachers have yet
to come to terms on two year con­
tracts for 1992-93 and 1993-94.
Both bargaining teams agree that
they’re open to any new pro­
posals concerning the 28 issues
that are involved. But it’s likely
that the next step in the process
will be a “ fact finding” session
scheduled for January 27, 1993
at Boardman City Hall.
Local residents are hoping that
there won’t be a repetition of the
district’s 1989 strike. Along with
disrupting the school system and
costing the district over $65,000,
it divided communities and left
bitter memories.
It’s the contract language and
technical aspects that both
bargaining teams claim are the
major issues. But the dollar figure
overshadows the playing field
because of undetermined state
school support dollars and a cap
on county property taxes to
finance a $13 plus million budget.
' State mandated changes will
impact every school. The school
board says it is gearing up for
those changes. They take the
position that once a contract is in
force teachers cannot bargain for
compensation for additional work
duties including longer work days
and an extended school year. But
the district says it intends to sub­
mit a budget impact statement to
the Oregon Department of Educa­
tion for any additional funding re­
quested by teachers for compen­
sation. If ODE denies that fun­
ding request or any additional
revisions the teachers will per­
form extra work with no addi­
tional pay or benefits.
Eventually each school
building will be required to have
a site committee selected from
teachers, citizens,
board
members and administrators.
• .
These committees will be given 4.5 percent wage increase in
a budget to finance approved pro­ 1993-94 based on the Portland
fessional development requests. consumer price index.
The school board has propos­
MCEA is asking that employees
serving on site councils be com­ ed a two to two and one-half per­
pensated in release time, extend­ cent wage increase based on what
ed pay or compensatory time and they say is in line with the local
that teachers on the committee be cost of living increase. They also
elected annually by their peers say that the salary schedule
and that training for site councils should be maintained the same as
in the past which they feel is in
be included.
MCEA waives the right to line with the governor’s proposal
for a 10 percent reduction in local
bargain over site councils but they
are proposing that the step in­ school funding for the next
crease eligibility clause be deleted biennium.
Insurance costs are another
that requires teachers to obtain
nine quarter hours during a five-
issue. The school board wants to
year period for wage advance­ maintain a $400 cap per month
ment. The district maintains that
for each teacher’s health benefits.
the deletion of that requirement
MCEA is asking for $460 per
would weaken professional stan­
month for 1992-93 and a 15 per­
ding. MCEA holds that teachers
cent increase, amounting to $535
would receive credit hours for
per month the following year to
specialized professional develop­
maintain the same level of
ment under site committee ap­ coverage as insurance costs con­
proval rather than in any field of tinue to climb.
a teacher’s choice.
Because of the influx of non-
MCEA would like to maintain
English speaking students, par­
the wage step increase schedule
ticularly in north end schools,
as in the past. The district is pro­
MCEA says that elementary
posing that teachers may not teachers
should
receive
receive more than one step in­ guaranteed class preparation time
crease in wages per year.
during the work day. They also
The district’s teacher salaries feel that each classroom teacher
are often compared with larger be provided with a bilingual aide
nearby school districts such as where applicable. The board says
it has not determined the cost, but
Pendleton and H erm iston.
Statistics show that Morrow this proposal would add a number
County’s beginning teacher of additional employees.
salaries are above average for
MCEA is asking for a “ fair
districts of its size. On the other share” clause requiring all
end of the scale, the salaries of teachers to pay union dues since
teachers with tenure are slightly all teachers are represented by the
union. The district is of the opi­
below normal.
MCEA is proposing a restruc­ nion that this is an unfair demand.
turing of the salary scale so the
The district has also proposed
district won’t lose experienced a clause reducing extended con­
teachers, they say. They are tracts for vocational agriculture,
recommending that $200,000 in­ music, band and library at the
stead of $100,000 be budgeted for three Heppner schools and at
wage increases. MCEA is also Riverside. That action was re­
asking for compensation for any jected by MCEA.
increased PERS changes and a
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County court changes deputy DA position
The Morrow County Court has
decided to eliminate the position
of assistant district attorney and
create the position of county
counsel.
Morrow County Judge Louis
Carlson says that the deputy DA
position was previously under the
supervision of the DA. The coun­
ty counsel will be under the
supervision of the county court.
Carlson said that the deputy
DA’s position received around
$6,000 in state funding and the
remainder was funded by the
county. Under the change, the
counsel will not receive state fun­
ding, and the DA’s position will
no longer receive county funding
amounting to around $7,000, so
the costs involved are almost
identical.
Carlson said that the change
was necessitated by the increase
Town and Country day planned
The annual Town and Country
Day, “ Rural Folks Working
Together,” has been planned for
Wednesday, Jan. 13 at the Hepp­
ner Elks Club.
Cowboy poet Leon Flick will
be the featured speaker at the din­
ner at 7 p.m. The first citizen
awards will be presented and the
Morrow County Fair and Oregon
Trail Pro Rodeo Court coronation
will be held during the dinner in
addition to a gem drawing, com­
pliments of Peterson's Jewelers.
Tickets for the prime rib din­
ner are $15.
Meetings will be held at the
Elks all day. The meeting
schedule is as follows:
9 a.m.-Small Woodlands; 10
a.m.-Soil and Water Conserva­
tion Dist.; noon-luncheon buffet,
$5
Sagebrush
C oalition,
speakers, John Larkin and Den­
nis Maloney; 2 p.m. Water for
Life, Todd Heidgerken, director
field services. Morrow County
Livestock Growers and Wheat
League; 4 p.m.-“ Pool Operation
Change at Willow Creek Lake” ,
Bruce Duffe , public meeting,
reservoir regulation U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Portland
district; 6 p.m.-social hour; 7
p.m.-prime rib dinner.
The dinner and all meetings are
open to the public.
Gazette to close early for Christmas
day, Dec. 28. The staff wishes
everyone a Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year.
The Gazette-Times will close
Thursday, Dec. 24 at noon. The
office will be open again on Mon­
in duties required of the county
counsel. Previously the deputy
DA assisted the DA, as well as
serving as the county’s legal
counsel. Val Doherty has been
the deputy DA.
Carlson said that they are re­
quired to advertise for the newly-
created position and advertising
will probably begin around the
first of the year.
The counsel’s salary is
estimated to be around $28.900.
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Lighting contest
winners
announced
Gary and Barbara Watkins
were first place winners of the
Heppner Cham ber outdoor
lighting award. They won a $50
prize. Joyce Hughes won the first
place indoor display and receiv­
ed a $20 award and the Penland
House Bed and Breakfast took
first in the business category.
They received a $15 prize.
Other outdoor display winners
were Mark and Sandy Patton,
who received second place and
$25 and Kent and Carol
Goodyear, who received a $15
third place award.
Second place in the indoor
displays went to Nelson and Lois
Connor. They won a $10 award.
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HOME LOAN PROGRAM
Rates as low as 7.25%
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