Signs of hope in teacher contract dispute

The North Merrick School District Board of Education announced at a Dec. 8 public meeting that a resolution is expected to be reached in coming weeks on teacher contracts that expired in June 2008.

The breakthrough was reached at an 8 a.m. negotiation session on Sunday, Dec. 6.

"It's satisfying to announce that we have reached what we feel is the framework for an eventual settlement," said Rosanne Petraglia, president of the North Merrick Faculty Association, at the board meeting.

District Trustee Alyse Middendorf, who has acted as a board observer during contract negotiation sessions between the faculty association and district administration, noted the difficulty of weighing fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers against the responsibility to provide quality education to North Merrick students.

"The year is ending, and a new year is beginning, and it's a perfect opportunity for closure," Middendorf said.

Community members expressed relief that the long negotiation process will likely soon be over. "I was feeling a little disheartened that the board was not hearing our message," said Kristen Maldonato, a North Merrick resident who has been an outspoken supporter of the faculty association at previous meetings. "But now I am feeling hopeful."

The tentative agreement came "through the cooperative effort of parents, of community members supporting our budgets, support staff, administrators," said Petraglia . "In North Merrick, we have everything to be proud of, and that's because the children are and always will be our chief concern."

A contract settlement is expected to be reached before the new year.