We are also expecting several teachers to retire.

There are tremendous needs here in Oil City. The high school is 40 years old and there have been no major renovations. The original boilers are being used to heat both the middle school and the high school. Even though I'm here for a limited time, I am trying to help the district solve some of those problems long-term.

Even though the IU has made a concerted effort - and we appreciate that - the savings will not be anywhere near as much.

Following the fact-finder's report, we need to get back into negotiations to discuss these very points. We're in the process of setting up a negotiations meeting right now.

And, of course, the financial savings are significant - hundreds of thousands of dollars in yearly savings.

Savings of this magnitude will help the district immeasurably.

Rather than Oil City starting those two classes ourselves and have those two teachers be without jobs, we would rather have their knowledge and expertise in their classrooms.

That is something that happened in the 1980s, and it is long forgotten on my part and by anyone at the IU. I had a wonderful career at the IU, and I am very disappointed that anyone would think this was in any way related.