Barbara Reina reports in the Register Star the Ichabod Crane Board of Education authorized Interim Superintendent Lee Bordick Tues., Feb. 28, to approach the district's bargaining units about an across the board pay freeze next year. Member John Antalek said the pay freeze would save Ichabod $327,500. The board is looking to decrease an anticipated $1.2 million budget gap for 2012-13. Contract negotiations between the district and the Ichabod Crane Teachers Association were declared at an impasse early this week. Asked by Reina about the possibility of a pay freeze, ICTA President Patricia Jones said the idea has not been presented. "...I don't discuss negotiations outside of the bargaining table," Jones said. Under the Public Employees Fair Employment Act, or the Taylor Law, the district must honor the expired contract until a new agreement is reached. The terms of that contract require teachers receive step increases of approximately 2.5 percent each year. According to board Vice President Regina Rose, the institution of a pay freeze could mean fewer jobs will be lost and less programming will be cut. Read the full story in the Register Star.