TRUMBULL COUNTY Career center superintendent sees pact talks through before retiring

Both sides have yet to ratify the contract.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CHAMPION -- Dianne Kenzie vowed to see negotiations through before leaving her post as superintendent of Trumbull Career and Technical Center.
And now that a tentative contract is on the table before the school's sole employee union, Kenzie says, it looks like she'll be able to keep her promise.
Kenzie is retiring at the end of the month. Today was supposed to be her last board of education meeting as superintendent, but Kenzie says a special meeting will be called later in the month to ratify the contract.
She declined to discuss details of the proposed pact.
Mediator called in: A mediator was called in earlier in the fall to help the two sides, which have been negotiating since spring.
Most TCTC employees are represented by Trumbull County Joint Vocational Education Association. Its last contract expired June 30.
Board President Roger Samuelson has said sticking points are health benefits and wages.
Officials have said that in the last year, the vocational school's claims for health insurance have far exceeded the amount it has paid in premiums -- a dilemma many public agencies and school districts are facing.
Kenzie said the union needs 10 days to look over the proposed contract and will meet after that to take a vote.
"It's a good contract," Kenzie said. "I fully anticipate it will be passed."
Ratification date: Union president William Eliser said employees will be looking over the proposal and have a ratification meeting planned for Dec. 18. On first look, he said, the proposal looks good and that "I think it's going to sail."
Kenzie has logged 31 years as an educator, 18 of them at TCTC, the former Trumbull County Joint Vocational School.
The school board has chosen TCTC director Patricia Hura of Canfield as interim superintendent. Hura is also a contender for the superintendent's post in Columbiana.
"She'll be a terrific superintendent for whoever is lucky enough to have her," Kenzie said.
The superintendent has not yet begun packing up her office and still has loose ends to secure.
"I said I was going to get that contract done before I left here, and I'm glad I was able to do that."
davis@vindy.com