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TUESDAY MAY 15, 2012
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GREELEY, COLORADO 75 CENTS VOL. 141 NO. 185
GREELEY-EVANS SCHOOL DISTRICT 6
Board and union come to agreement By SHERRIE PEIF speif@greeleytribune.com
T
he Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education and the Greeley Education Association have agreed to a new master teacher contract that for the first time in three years includes raises. The board voted 6-0 to approve the contract for 1,100 teachers in the district for the 2012-13 school year at its regular meeting Monday. GEA
members finalized their approval of the contract last week. Board member Logan Richardson was not present. The district and GEA, which is the 800-member union representing the teachers, have been in negotiations since mid March. The two groups held seven meetings before reaching an agreement. Board members were pleased at the quick turnaround this year and the ability to offer competitive
salaries that include a near 4 percent raise for all teachers. “It was important to both teams,” member Judy Kron said. “I am particularly pleased that we are finally able to reward our teachers.” Kron added that the teachers work hard and for the past few years have done so without added compensation. Last year, district officials agreed to raises based on experience and education, but four furlough days
made the agreement salary-neutral. The furlough days saved the district $1.6 million, however, it also took four days of contact time with the students out of the school calendar. “I’m glad our budget is finally in a place that we can reward our teachers and that we don’t have to take furlough days,” Kron said. “This is a district that asks a lot of its teachers, and it’s nice to be able to reward them for it.” This year’s negotiations were
considered a “short year,” in which teachers and the district can each bring up to six items to the table for discussion. Every other year, negotiations are long years, in which the two sides are allowed to bring 12 items to the table. One of the non-monetary issues on the table was how to write Senate
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Civil unions bill killed in special session
« DOZENS OF firefighters battle growing wildfire west of Fort Collins
Associated Press DENVER — A last-ditch effort by
JIM RYDBOM/jrydbom@greeleytribune.com
SMOKE RISES FROM THE Hewlett Gulch Trailhead in the Poudre Canyon as seen from Weld County roads 13 and 84 just
after sunset Monday evening. The fire is estimated to have charred over 250 acres, but officials said no structures were immediately threatened Monday.
FIRE SPREADS AT THE
HS senior at last discovers rare illness that’s haunted her for years
POUDRE CANYON Staff and wire reports
F
» More info
ORT COLLINS —
With an air tanker dropping slurry in support, dozens of firefighters on Monday battled a wildfire that raced through timber, grass and brush in the Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins. The U.S. Forest Service says the fire already has charred an estimated 270280 acres northeast of the Hewlett Gulch Trailhead in Poudre Canyon. Two trails in the area were closed. About 40 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and Larimer County Emergency Services were among those on the fire, and
Real-time information on the Hewlett Fire can be found at http://inciweb.org/incident/2863/
PHOTOS COURTESY OF 7NEWS
authorities requested four 20-person crews. The fire was less than 1 mile from Poudre Park,
but officials said no structures were immediately threatened Monday. Residents from mile markers
« WHAT’S COMING LACKOF LAND
With oil and gas in boom and farmers recording record incomes, finding ag land for sale is tough in Weld. Wednesday’s Tribune.
110-115 one-quarter mile north and south of Highway 14 were being notified about the fire and were told to be prepared to evacuate if needed. A single-engine air tanker dropped fire retardant on the flames, and the Forest Service said a heavy air tanker and helicopter also were requested to help fight the fire. A smoke plume hung over Fort Collins and the northern Front Range. The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately known.
« WHAT’S NEWS « WEATHER
WEATHER TODAY Plenty of sunshine
High 84 Low 43 WEATHER, XX
Plenty of sunshine High 84 Low 43 B10: Weather
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Colorado’s governor to give gay couples in the state rights similar to married couples failed Monday after Republicans rejected the proposal during a special legislative session. Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper had said the special session was needed to address a “fundamental question of fairness and civil rights.” The bill’s demise was expected by Democrats, who have begun using the issue as a rallying cry to topple Republicans in the November elections. Republicans assigned the bill to House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, which was likely to reject it. The panel voted 5-4 along party lines to kill the measure. “The gay community is being used as a political pawn,” said Republican Rep. Don Coram, whose son is gay. Coram voted against the measure. House Republicans hold a 3332 voting advantage, but there was enough support for civil unions to pass.
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Raven McGeen sat between her mother, Sandy, and her father, Dan, and petted her dog that, like most golden retrievers, was sweet, goofy and had a personality to match its size, which was close to a small Dan pony. ENGLAND It was safe out The Tribune here on the front porch of their Greeley home, in the beautiful sun and the fresh air, away from the noise of walls being knocked down and the smell of paint and the sweat of hard-working contractors. Home renovations are always
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