By Melissa Hale-Spencer

ALTAMONT — Sgt. Chris Kitto’s family is celebrating his return from Iraq and inviting the community to join them.

“We’re just so relieved he’s home and safe,” said his mother, Francine Kitto.

Draw together to form a more perfect school district

Illustration by Forest Byrd

As the Guilderland School District continues in an uproar over the reassignment of two of its teachers, we have written as well this week about two important contracts.

GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland Bulldogs battled their way to become champs in the Babe Ruth Central District 14-Year-Old All-Star Tournament.  The team will now move on to the state regional tournament.

GUILDERLAND — Two much-anticipated reports were released by the Guilderland School District to the public Monday.

Super’s transfer of teachers stands

GUILDERLAND — In a pin-drop quiet hall Monday morning, nine school board members made carefully-crafted statements on whether the board should review the administration’s transfer of two high-school teachers to the middle school.

GUILDERLAND — Both sides negotiating the new teachers’ contract said the approach used was collaborative.

GUILDERLAND — As school-district workers enter the final year of a four-year contract, they are being frozen on the same step of a 10-step salary scale where they were last year.

Teachers get 14% raises over 3 years

GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland teachers have a new three-year contract that will give them substantial raises and will lengthen the elementary-school day.

Purple crocs lead way to happy life

GUILDERLAND — Lisa Whitman stepped to the podium at the Empire State Plaza auditorium wearing purple crocs beneath her black academic robe.

GUILDERLAND — Citizens were clearly frustrated Tuesday night when the school board president told them they couldn’t speak in public about two teachers they wanted to defend.

It turns out board members were frustrated, too.