Blackfork School

TEACHERS SUE FOR SALARIES
Former Blackfork Coach In Principal In Suit
Submitted by Peggy A. Wells

Ironton Tribune, 17 March 1932, Thursday, Page 10

At least two cases are pending in local courts due to non-payment of teachers’ salaries. It became known today. One action involving money due Jack Gembis, coach of the Chesapeake high school, formerly affiliated with the Decatur and Blackfork schools, and one involving money due Lewis A. Maxwell on his 1930-31 salary is in court at this time.

The case in which Gembis is involved is more or less an odd one, and there are possibilities that there will still be others like it filed in local courts.

Gembis it is pointed out by his attorney, H. A. McCown, was employed by the Blackfork board of education last school year. He was hired at a specified salary, but a lack of finances made it necessary for the board to get behind in paying salaries to teachers. As a result, some of Gembis’ and other teachers’ salaries are still due this year.

However, a short time ago, Gembis received a letter from the Blackfork board of education informing him that instead of owing him money from last year, they had overpaid him according to his qualifications as a teacher under the new salary scale set by the state. Gembis is now employed at Chesapeake, and the Blackfork board, reported by Attorney McCown, has announced that it will collect the amount overpaid Gemis from the Chesapeake board.

“If the Chesapeake board has money which it wants to pay out to the Blackfork board, we have no objections,” remarked McCown, “but that will not keep the Chesapeake board from being indebted to Gembis for the salary at which he was hired at Chesapeake. McCown expressed the opinion that it was foolish for the Blackfork board to assume the attitude that it would pay back pay to Gembis on a contract for last year on a salary scale in effect this year. Action has been filed in Squire Burke’s court by Gembis to recover his full salary.

Judgment for $500 on last year’s salary and court costs and interest has been allowed Lewis A. Maxwell against the Proctorville board of education in the Lawrence county court of common pleas.

The Proctorville board hired Maxwell to teach in the high school from September 1, 1930, to May 15, 1931. He contended that his salary was set at $1,500, but he received only $1,000 of it. He asked for the balance of $500 with interest at six percent from May 15, 1931, and court costs in action filed thru the firm of A. R. Johnson.

The school board did not contest the action, and the judgment was allowed on default.

—————————————————————————————-

Some Families Living in Blackfork, Ohio
Submitted by Herb Scott