BOE approves two-year deal, savings estimated at $76K
Union contracts can create lengthy negotiations; but the Scotia-Glenville Board of Education approved a new two-year contract with the district Teachers’ Association on time.
The Board of Education unanimously approved a new two-year contract with the teachers’ union on Monday, June 27. The contract for the 237 teachers holds a 1 percent salary increase in the 2011-12 school year and no cost-of-living salary increase the following school year. Teachers not receiving a step increase for years on the job will receive a $500 payment in 2012-13. The contract also holds an estimated savings of $76,000 from switching employees out of two HMO insurance plans after the salary increases.
The previous contract was a four-year contract (in effect from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2011) but the newly approved contract is shorter due to unknown effects of the newly adopted property tax cap, which was passed on Friday, June 24. The Scotia-Glenville Teachers’ Association membership approved the contract on June 17.
`I think that in the uncertainty of the time, we were interested in settling quickly, but for a shorter amount of time as we wait to see what happens with the property tax cap,` said Superintendent Susan Swartz.
Teachers Association President Eric DeCarlo could not be reached for comment.
There are many `unanswered questions,` said Swartz, and district officials still need to read the fine print and see how the tax cap will affect the district. The 2011-12 budget approved by district voters attempted to prepare for such a cap, which held a tax levy increase of 1.57 percent and reduced spending by about $250,000 when compared to the 2010-11 budget.
Some details are still unclear to her too, such as if the cap can be removed if 60 percent of the registered voters in a district vote in support of removing the cap, or if only a 60 percent of the voting majority is needed.
`We are still anxious to see mandate relief that has been coupled with the tax cap to see what they are going to do in terms of mandate relief that will help us maintain and improve our programs to kids,` said Swartz.
The new contract will help the school maintain educational programming, Swartz said, and BOE President Pamela Carbone echoed her statement.
`I think it is a good contract that benefits everybody, especially the kids we can go forward without conflict,` said Board of Education President Pamela.
State law dictates teachers advance one step for each year of service. In the approved contract, the step increase averages 3 percent across the 23 steps available. The 1 percent salary increase for the first year of the contract is in addition to any step increase attained. A teacher on step 23 with a bachelor’s degree in September 2010 was paid $86,344, according to district officials. In September 2011, that teacher will make $87,207. Since there is no step increase in 2012, the teacher would only receive a $500 payment in addition to their salary.
The starting salary of a teacher with a bachelor’s degree in 2010 was $40,400, which will increase to $40,804 in 2011. District officials said a higher starting salary is important for the district to attract and keep good teachers.
Bidding farewell
The board on Monday also recognized two departing members of the Board of Education, Benjamin Conlon and Leslie Smith.
Conlon decided he didn’t want to run for another term after serving on the board for nine years. He cited personal reasons, such as a busy work schedule, for leaving. Smith was elected in 2010 to fill a remaining term but wasn’t reelected in the recent election for a full three-year term.
`[Conlon’s] expertise in law has been very beneficial to us; we all counted on him to look over the contracts we were about ready to approve and he made sure everything was in order,` said Carbone. `Nine years is a really long time and we really appreciate it. You have spent a lot of Monday nights here.`
Colon said it was a good learning experience for him and he urged other people to run for the school board to experience it themselves.
`I have never been on a board that every person is not here for the right reason,` said Conlon.“
