NILES Three teachers sue board of education

NILES -- Three teachers whose contracts weren't renewed for next year are suing the board of education.
Mark A. Salvaterra of Bentwillow Drive, Melanie Penska of North Rhodes Avenue and Tracie M. Parry of Robbins Avenue filed separate lawsuits Wednesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, seeking to be rehired.
Superintendent Patrick N. Guliano declined to comment on the suits. The cases are assigned to Judge Wyatt McKay.
The teachers contend the school board did not follow proper procedure in April when it voted not to renew their contracts.
Salvaterra and Penska worked at McKinley High School, while Parry taught at Edison Junior High. Penska and Parry taught English, and Salvaterra was a long-term substitute in math.
In the lawsuits
The suits say state law requires that teachers with limited contracts must be evaluated at least twice during the school year and be provided with criteria of expected job performance. The three contend they were informed their contracts were not being renewed as part of a plan requiring "cost reduction measures including reduction of staff."
The school district faces a projected budget shortfall of more than $2 million and earlier this year was placed in fiscal watch by the state.
The school board, which is required under fiscal watch to adjust the budget, has already voted not to renew several limited contracts, to close an elementary school and to lay off other employees to help cut costs.
All three are asking for back pay and fringe benefits until they are re-employed or until the procedural errors committed by the board are corrected.