Schools chief talks about budget, plans
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
This is a transcript of The Gazette’s online chat with John Heim, superintendent of the Emporia public schools. The chat was held Tuesday afternoon.
Q Parent participation is very low, especially in the middle school and high school. But even at the elementary level, very few parents are actively involved. How is the school district encouraging parent involvement in schools? What does the school district need to be doing better to encourage parent involvement?
A Parent involvement is one of the most important factors in a child’s success at school. I think the majority of parents want to be involved but it is very difficult for them to come to school for meetings or other events. Parents are very busy. I think we need to look at parent involvement in a new way and find ways to keep parents engaged in the educational process without expecting them to attend meetings around our schedule. PowerSchool has been a good tool for keeping parents actively involved in their children’s education, especially at the intermediate, middle and high school. Parents can stay informed about their children’s grades, attendance and status of assignments. They have handy e-mail access to all teachers, who all have laptop computers to manage their electronic grade books and e-mail communication. My son is not a big fan of PowerSchool because I can check his grades every day. Our elementary schools have nearly 100 percent attendance at parent-teacher conferences in the fall and winter. One reason for this is that the elementary schools are flexible in their scheduling to accommodate parents. If parents can’t come to them, some teachers will go to the child’s home to meet with the parents. Attendance at the middle and high school conferences is lower, perhaps because of the information parents have available through PowerSchool. Finally, at the middle and high school level, parents become involved through booster clubs and other groups that specially support individual activities, such as band, drama, debate and athletics.
Q You have been very candid in stating that staffing needs for the upcoming year will be met through “attrition, transfers and normal staffing procedures.” However, what does this mean for first year teachers who are not guaranteed anything, and could be let go without any explanation (keeping in mind that laws prevent employers from giving reason to first year teachers)? If you have to cut jobs, they will be the first on the cutting block, will the district at least state that it is because of recent events in the community, or leave it to the imagination of everyone? It’s one thing to say we have to, another to say nothing; saying nothing could hamper the process of a perfectly good teacher obtaining a job in another district.
A I know that the level of anxiety is high right now, especially with our non-tenured teachers. I believe the district can handle staffing changes through attrition, transfers and normal staffing procedures. Transfers of certified and classified staff are becoming more likely because enrollment balances may be changed by changes in community demographics. Transfers for staff and students will be considered at the district level to help manage necessary changes on the whole. Hopefully, we will not have to reduce staff significantly this year.
Q How can the district consider plans to relocate the central office because of expansion when there is a distinct possibility that the district will suffer substantial losses in size?
Q If the Administration moves from the Merchant Street location to Mary Herbert, where will Flint Hills Special Ed Co-Op be housed?
A I’d like to address both of these questions at the same time. First, we have no plans to expand the central office or increase central office staff. If we relocate to Mary Herbert, it would consolidate our operations with the Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative. The FHSEC staff would stay at Mary Herbert. We would have to relocate the Toy Shoppe and Emporians for Drug Awareness. There are many benefits to having the district offices and FHSEC at the same location. It would eliminate some duplication in operations and it would allow our entire Teaching and Learning Department to be in one location with special education staff. We have been talking about the need to do this for more than a year. The two offers we’ve received for the building at 501 Merchant Street were unexpected. In light of recent events, the idea of selling a building does have some appeal as it would allow us to downsize in the number of buildings we own and maintain. We would save money in utilities as well and maintenance and insurance costs.
Q Please explain your evaluation procedure for administrators who are new to the district. Do you ask for feedback from the teachers and staff in that building?
Q Dr. Heim, are parents and/or building staff included in the evaluation process of first year administrators?
Q Do teachers and staff have any input on the evaluation process of new administrators?
A In our district, I evaluate all administrators and the schedule is spelled out in board policy. It states, “The superintendent or designee shall conduct administrative evaluations. In the evaluation, information and opinions may be obtained and/or accepted from teachers, students, parents and community members. Administrators will be formally evaluated according to the same time schedule for certified staff; twice per year for the first two years, once per year for years three and four, and every three years thereafter. The superintendent may evaluate more often than the required schedule.” There is not a formal mechanism for parent, staff or student input but I do hear from parents and staff informally and I often include that in principals’ evaluations.
Q What can be done to reduce upper administration costs and boost teacher salaries, besides raising our taxes?
A Administrators perform an important function in the district and strong administrative leadership does make a difference in student achievement. The cost of district administration is 3% of our budget, the same as the state average. Every year during budget development and negotiations, improving teacher salaries and maintaining appropriate class sizes are our top priorities. During the past six years, teacher base pay has increased from $27,300 to $33,438. We have done this without raising the mill levy. In fact the levy for schools has declined every year.
Q Do you think teachers are overpaid, especially since they only work nine months a year? Can teacher salaries be reduced to help lower our taxes? Who sets them?
A I recall a Sports Illustrated article that listed Shaquille O’Neal’s salary and endorsements. With what he earned in 2007, he would have more than enough to pay all our teachers with money left over. Teachers are not overpaid, but Shaq might be. Teachers are not overpaid and I would not recommend their salaries be reduced. Kansas teacher pay is lower than 40 other states and I would argue that teachers are under paid. The current Kansas teacher shortage provides more evidence that teachers are underpaid. With literally hundreds of teaching jobs going unfilled in Kansas, Adam Smith’s “Invisible Hand” seems to tell us that teachers are underpaid. Teachers have students nearly 10 months of the year but their work does not end when the students leave. They plan their instruction, take additional classes, and attend training or other professional development activities to improve their skills and maintain their teaching certificate. Salaries are set through the negotiation process between the Board of Education and the Emporia National Education Association. The terms of the master contract must be ratified by both sides for new salaries to be implemented.
Q If the district loses enough students would it be possible that one of the elementary schools might be closed down? Do you think that any of the elementary schools would make for a suitable location to move the board offices to should the board decide to sell its current building?
A It would take about a year to plan for the closing of a school and we have no plans to close any schools next year. It is impossible to know what enrollment changes we will experience over the next few years as a result of the Tyson job cuts. I think all options for building use will have to be considered in the years ahead.
Comments
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
Posted by suzytea (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Typical administration answers, which say nothing.
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
On the contrary, I think he presented quite a bit of information. I especially like the way he compared what a teacher makes to Shaqille O'Neal's salary. And at last, someone has provided a good, solid answer to the myth that teachers only work 9 months of the year. So many people see their children on vacation and are convinced that teachers have all that extra time on their hands.
Teachers are required to take many different kinds of training including additional courses on the content areas they teach -- at their own expense; they must attend workshops on professional development, and some even serve in the Reserves during the summer. At what other time would teachers be able to take the courses they must have in order to maintain their licenses?
And finally, how many people in the private sector would like it if they were asked to take a pay cut? To save taxes? Don't you think we pay taxes too?
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 8:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
contract costs up up up no matter what. Pay cut? When did that happen?
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
admire, one of the questions for Dr. Heim asks about a pay cut to help lower taxes. That's why I commented on that.
"Q Do you think teachers are overpaid, especially since they only work nine months a year? Can teacher salaries be reduced to help lower our taxes? Who sets them?"
What do you suggest would be an appropriate base pay for teachers? Currently, in USD 253 it is $33, 438. In USD 252, it is $30,816.
The median household income for the city of Emporia per the 1999 census is $41,994.
By the way, I called ESU this morning, and graduate level courses are currently $204 per credit hour. Most classes are 3 hour classes so that's $612 for tuition and you can add books to that. The last course I took required several books, as do most grad courses, so add at least $100 to that.
This isn't antagonistic; I would really like an answer about what you believe the base pay for teachers should be. Please keep in mind that teachers pay taxes too.
Posted by classic (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I find the relocation question to be missing the whole story. The Merchant Street building was not for sale, two offers just emerged. Does a relationship with a realtor and administrator have any connection? Just who is Deuce Holdings LLC?
"The FHSEC staff would stay at Mary Herbert." Do the twenty or so Co-op service providers that are being kicked out not count? How much money will we save when the lavish remodeling begins? Co-op has been abe to work there without a need to remodel the building.
Posted by rcakmon (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The answer about administrator evaluations is interesting. Although input from staff and parents can be considered, there is no formal gathering of this info. There should be! Unless you are in that building daily as a parent or staff member, you don't know what is really going on. Some administrators have a way of looking good when they need to. Perhaps the BOE needs to add this piece to all admin evals so the whole story comes out.
Posted by rcakmon (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FYI...the entire building at Mary Herbert was renovated before the FHSEC moved in. There were MAJOR changes made. The changes needed now would not be huge compared to what was done before.
The service providers don't need to be in that building. The money saved by combining the coop and BOE office is more important than support staff keeping their over-sized offices. The support staff should be in the school buildings providing services so their office space should not be a priority.
Posted by classic (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If major changes were already made then I hope the school board will take before and after pictures because I suspect 'you ain't seen nothing yet'.
I do agree admin evals should have input from the public and staff --even supt. The school system seldom tells the whole story.
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
create, total cost per government school teachers (base plus extras plus benefits ) should be about 80% of the Emporia community average wage and benefits. Exclude ESU from the mix. How is that for a discussion start point?
Posted by bjohn (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
@ admireed, I'm sorry but that is just idiotic. We would have no teachers in this town if we followed that suggestion. How about we do the same for the firemen and police force? Watch them leave too. What the hell? Who needs these people around anyway? All they do is cost us money. They don't actually provide any services. Just like doctors, teacher and other government staff are going to get jobs where they can make a decent living. They have so many out of pocket expenses that you don't seemed too concerned about. Let's just let the fire department buy their own hoses or the cops purchase their own squad cars. Who cares? It will save us money. Guess what this kind of thinking leads too? No services of any kind. And for the record, no I'm not a teacher.
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
admireed, I suggest you start installing bars on all your windows and doors because you're gonna need 'em when there are no teachers to teach the children of Emporia.
Your suggestion is totally unrealistic. Like bjohn says, teachers will simply pull up stakes and move on to other areas that pay higher salaries. There are acute teacher shortages now so jobs are out there.
In addition, at the start of every school year, we see ads by companies like Staples and Office Depot that are trying to get teachers to purchase supplies at their stores? Those companies know that teachers are buying classroom supplies out of their own pockets. Sure, they're offering incentives like a free colorful cloth bag to put your stuff in and cash back on purchases, but it is all out-of-pocket nonetheless.
No sir, your idea is crazy and will quickly lead to some serious problems just because you want to save a few bucks. I don't want to live in the community your idea is suggesting.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Teachers should be paid more money, you pay someone millions to play basketball , but you pay someone with our greatest resource(our Kids) peanuts , it just does not make since .
Posted by lurker75 (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is one school in particular where I'm afraid the BOE isn't fully "up to snuff" on what's been going on there. If the teachers didn't feel so threatened, and were given an opportunity to voice their concerns there would be some major eye opening going on. I know if I were in a head of a business or corporation, I just wouldn't take my middle managers' words that they were doing well, and everything was fine. I'd sure give every opportunity for their subordinates to reflect on the leadership they are being given. If the reports come back positive, kudos to the person in charge. If not, I'd take a more serious look and make changes wherever needed, because, no matter how you look at it, the person in charge is always reflected in those directly below him/her.
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey admire, Wait until you see this:
http://blogs.columbiatribune.com/educati...
Posted by emp205 (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about the connection between the sale of the building and the administrator. Has the board of education made comment on that?
Posted by starfire (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Create - I like that website! Neat idea paying teachers what they are actually worth. You can bet there will be NO teacher shortage in that school in New York!
Posted by starfire (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lurker 75
Will you tell us what school are you refering to? I can only guess the 6th grade building or the 7th & 8th grade building?
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 7, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
create...I liked that site. Merit pay, high standards, reallocation of funds are on the right track.
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 8, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, admire. I'm glad you liked that site. Once the school gets up and running, that is when I want to see assessment scores and related reports to see if it is indeed true that highly paid teachers can do a better job. We keep hearing that time and time again, but we have only words. The proof will be in the pudding.
I retired last year, but as a teacher, I was not highly paid, but I like to think I did a darn good job, and certainly proved it with scores year after year. But what was my motivation? Sure, it felt good whenever we were offered a raise, even a small one; but for me, the motivation was looking into the faces of a classroom full of teenagers, garnering their respect, and seeing them "get it." But we can't keep teachers on the payroll with teenage respect and small pay raises when other districts are attracting them away with higher salaries.
And yes, I do like the reallocation of funds. Here in Kansas, whatever monies a district does not use by the next fiscal year must be turned back to the state. I don't know what happens to those dollars then.
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 8, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
create, my thought about high paid teachers is spend what it takes to try and retain very outstanding classroom folks. Now in order to get a $50,000 plus income one has to go into administration or something else out of the classroom.
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 8, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
admire, yes, I see now. Also, I remember the last time Emporia looked at merit pay. Whoa! What a mess that was.
Posted by dick (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wouldn't it be nice for all of us to have jobs that after 2 years or so we have tensure, drawing a salary of over $33,000 and be assured that our jobs were still going to be there and that it would take an act of congress to get rid of me? That's sucks. These sort of things have been going on for longer then any of us want to remember. We the tax payers have given the school systems, cities, counties, states and congress a blank check for years. "You all have to know how the system works" I've been told. Create, your comment on the cost of credit hours @ ESU is and can be funded by many avenues of monies available to you as you well know and lot of it never has to be paid back. This is also funded by the tax payer.
Posted by Kansan (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dick-you've got that right! I bet no private employer here in town has guaranteed the safety of its employees' jobs. Heck his own salary not to mention his huge investment is always at risk. How many times has your employer given you the summer off to take courses to advance your career?
Gosh, do they think that no one in private industry has to have a higher degree or take continuing ed courses to maintain a designation or license? How about vacation days? Do you get 2 weeks off at Christmas, 1 week for spring break, not to mention every holiday that's every been dreamed up off from your job?
Please look at the whole picture and not just the "pay".
Posted by emporia (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You could have been a teacher, too...We all make choices in life.
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dick and kansas. Obviously you hate children.
Posted by emporia (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see...if I have 18 children in my classroom and I charge the taxpayers (of which I am one) *scratching my head* oh let's say $3.00 an hour (I'm thinking about what childcare is...or I do believe that it is MUCH more)...that equals $54.00 an hour. Then, if I multiply the $54.00 an hour times the MINIMUM 6.5 hours a day that equals $351.00 a day I should be making. Then, if I ONLY work 180 days a year, I times $351.00 a day times 180 and that equals $63,180. Hmmmmmmmm *scratching my head again*.....and most days I work 9 hours a day to the upswing of 12 when I have Family Nights to conduct....Then my actual pay would be $87,480 a year...Wow...With that kind of pay I think I would leave this negative town that doesn't support its teachers...the ones who CHOSE to go into the profession because they have a passion to teach children NOT to get rich or constantly degraded by the public. Sad, sad, world...my poor students.
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
emporia, good response. Think of what the boss at Tyson should make with 2400 to look after 24/7 (before layoffs)
Posted by Kansan (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hate children??? Is that your most intellectual and persuasive response? You must have been educated in our wonderful public school system. You know, all these whining teachers could have chosen a different career path, too. All I'm saying is that the "pay package" includes more than just the dollar wage. Are you willing to give up your tenure, your summers, ending the day at 4:00, your pay raises not being determined by your performance, and health, retirement, and vacation benefits to match those of the private sector? When you can answer yes to those questions, your dollar wage will increase.
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kansas, relax is was a JOKE! Your points are valid, very valid.
Posted by gtntired30 (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a Kansas school teacher, I have never taken a summer off. My wages do not allow me to do so. I have worked every day of every summer that I have taught. Take a closer look. A starting school teacher in this area can make around $30000. That same teacher with 20 years of experience or more and lets just say (2) masters degrees will make 43,000. That teacher has basically maxed out and has no way to make any additional income. The time needed to take additional hours also takes teachers away from time needed to make additional monies. Lets see a change of a maximum of 13000 over a 30 year period, doesn't really make all those hours of additional education pay off. As for other means of paying for those hours.... let us in on all of those. I paid for my degrees in my own money and my own time all while working full time year round. I don't think this is whining, these are just the facts. I did choose this occupation and it was a good match for me. I wish I was compensated better but again this was my choice. However, as bad as education will need good young people to be tomorrow's teachers, I will have a difficult time suggesting to that bright , intelligent young man that he should pursue a career in education. We made the choice and what we have is one of the most underpaid, under appreciated, overly criticized jobs in todays work world. We will keep going though for the same reasons that we started, because we care to attempt to make a difference.
Posted by emporia (anonymous) on March 9, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you gtntired...Your message was right on and I was trying to convey this in my message by simply stating that most people think of us as "glorified babysitters". No, we are not whining...WE chose our profession and it is a PERFECT match for me. I thank the Lord DAILY for GIVING me the opportunity to be a teacher. I paid for all of my education, also...another blessing from the Lord and I know that when I am face-to-face with my Maker, HE will know that I tried my VERY best to do what He trusted me to do, educate the students that I was very fortunate to have in my classroom.
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Right on, Gtntired, what a succinct message. Reading it adds to my pride for having chosen a profession that has allowed me for a little over 20 years to make a difference in so many lives.
And I agree with emporia; we aren't whining, not at all. Teaching is an opportunity and I like to think that although everyone can choose to become a teacher, not everyone is cut out to be one.
Posted by momoftwo (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I go back & forth on the issue of teacher pay. I honestly believe teachers should be paid (& receive increases in pay) based on their performance. There are so many great teachers out there that put in a lot of time year round and they are not compensated any more than those who are out the door as soon as they're allowed to leave for the day. I also believe it ought to take more than a couple years to be granted tenure status. For an experienced teacher moving to a new district, maybe a couple years would be fine as long as their performance supports it; however, I think 2 years is not long enough for teachers just out of college. Again, this is just my opinion.
For the teachers (current & former) - how about some discussion on the cost of insurance. I've got a couple relatives who are teachers and I cannot believe how much you all have to pay for health insurance. It kind of puzzles me because I worked for ESU for a while several years ago and our premiums weren't anything like what teachers are asked to pay. Aren't teachers considered state employees?
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't address the issue of health insurance premiums because I have retired; however, I do know that premiums for the district where I used to work are almost $900 a month for a family. Shocking isn't it? Some districts offer to pay $200 or $250 as a relief.
Teachers are not state employees but they do contribute to the state public employees retirement fund, KPERS. Instead, teachers are employees of individual school districts.
Tenure depends on the school district. At my old district it is awarded after three years of teaching, but it is not an automatic event. It must be approved by the school board after a review of the teacher's evaluations first. All first year teachers are evaluated annually by the principal. Teachers with experience elsewhere can get credit for up to ten years. Again, this depends on the district.
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The cost of health care is a big expense to everyone not just teachers. Each segment blames the other Hosp. Drs. Ins Cos drug companies. Sick just costs more than it used to.
Posted by emporia (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was just told by Blue Select (because I was trying to understand my billing for bloodwork) and the very kind lady told me that I was "underinsured". I didn't realize that because I used to be with my spouse in a family plan because it was cheaper than the school district. Now to be underinsured scares me to be very careful for anything that needs to be done. $600.00 for bloodwork. YIKES!
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 10, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
List prices for medical services are bogus. Like paying sticker price plus pak plus paper work fees on a new car. Horse puckey!
Posted by cdl84 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After reading many comments, I think alot of people have the wrong idea of what teachers actually work.
First of all, they don't work 9 mos with 3 mos off. If you check the calendar, teachers report back the beginning of August and work through May. (this year they go back after Memorial Day due to the snow day). If my calculations are correct, that leaves only June and July off. This also does not take into account teachers going in a week or two early to start getting their rooms ready, which they do NOT get paid for! Some teachers are in their rooms getting ready on their own time in July!
Teachers have contracts that they sign, and only get paid for the days that they work according to the school calendar. (student contact days plus inservices and workdays) They do NOT get paid holidays like Christmas and spring break. Any days off during the year that are not scheduled as a school day or inservice day they are not getting paid for. I get tired of hearing about teachers getting "two weeks off at Christmas and spring break." True they do not work during those breaks, but they are also not getting paid! To be honest, they need that time to recharge their batteries! (and spend time with their families)
If you have not been in a classroom in awhile,you have no idea about how much pressure is on teachers. They don't work a 9-5 job. They are there before school, after school, weekends, you name it! Not just doing lesson plans, but grading, looking at test scores and data on kids, making up plans on how to best fit their needs and report to the principal. The paperwork and data teachers have to deal with these days is unbelievable!!!
They attend meetings they do not get paid for, attend school activities that they do not get paid for, "volunteer" and serve on committees that meet outside the school day that they do not get paid for....the list goes on and on.
Teachers also pay for many school related things out of their own pocket because classroom budgets are so low!! (and will be lower next year probably!) It adds up fast! I know of several teachers who kept track of their receipts and expenditures out of their own pocket, and were shocked to see that it was over $1,000!!! How many doctors, lawyers, and other professionals do that? Probably none, and their salaries are much higher than teachers!
Teachers are some of the most overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated professionals that I know of! School is not what it was, and teaching has changed tremendously. It's strenous and stressful, and hearing the community complain only adds to the stress! We are going to see a high case of teacher burnout if we don't take care of our teachers!
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Right on target, cdl84. You make my heart sing. Your comments about the paperwork and data teachers must process were very important. It's just not about grading papers anymore.
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)