N. Merrick settles four-year teacher contract

The North Merrick School District Board of Education voted four to two, with one abstention, to ratify a new four-year teachers' contract at a Jan. 13. public meeting.

Prior to the meeting, contracts in the district were expired since 2008.

"We are so happy to finally have a fair settlement," said Rosanne Petraglia, president of the North Merrick Faculty Association. "We want to thank the Board of Education for all their hard work and support throughout the whole process."

David Feller, the district superintendent and a member of the district's negotiating team, said the new contract covers the period from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2012.

The salary schedule includes an increase of 2.21 percent for the first year, 2008-09, which is not retroactive, but is built into the base salary for future increases. Annual salaries are set to increase 2.5 percent for both the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, and 2.75 percent the year after.

Health insurance contributions, accrued sick leave pay after retirement and long-term substitute teacher pay were also changed in the new contract.

"I think it's a fair settlement for both sides, and I think the fact that it took so long is a reflection of the difficult times," Feller said.

Employee health insurance contributions will increase from 15 percent to 20 percent by Jan. 1, 2012, Feller said, adding that health insurance was an issue that he believed was important to the board and the community.

Under terms of the previous contract, faculty were allowed 180 days of sick leave, and could cash in up to 50 percent of those days to be paid with money from the district's accrued liability fund if they were not taken by retirement. The new contract will allow new hires to cash in only 20 percent.

In the previous contract, a substitute teacher who had the same assignment was paid a per diem substitute rate for 10 days. After 10 days, a the substitute would earn a per diem equal to a teacher's salary, retroactive to the first day of the assignment. New terms stipulate that a substitute will be paid a substitute's rate for the first 50 days of an assignment and will earn a per diem equal to a teacher's salary starting on day 51, with no retroactivity.

Neil Brown, the newest board member, said, "We've learned there is no right and wrong. We respect everyone's opinion and we compromise."

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