Teachers, school board reach agreement

On June 22, at its final Public Work Session of the school year, the Rockville Centre Board of Education joined members of the bargaining unit representing approximately 450 district teachers and teaching assistants to unanimously ratify a new contract. Four of the five trustees voted, board Vice President Stephen Kriss was absent.

With teachers agreeing to give-backs over the life of the four-year contract, including an extra nine minutes a day of secondary-level instructional time in the last two years of the contract, which will add approximately five days of instruction over the course of a school year, modifications to procedures governing salary levels and promotions, and professional development funds — all saving the district money — the contract provides teachers with a 7.75 percent increase in salary. They will also increase their contributions to their health insurance by 3 percent, to 17 percent over the life of the contract.

Under the agreement, teachers will receive no increase during the 2010-11 school year. In the first semester of 2011-12, they'll get a 1.25 percent increase and in the second semester of that year there will be another 1.25 percent increase. In 2012-13 the increase will be 2.5 percent and in 2013-14, 2.75 percent.

“We ratified a contract and saved a tremendous amount of money by negotiating directly with the Teachers’ Association and not involving our respective attorneys,” said school board president Mark Masin. "The board commends both the administration and the Rockville Centre Teachers’ Association for reaching this agreement so that the children of our district will continue to receive the excellent opportunities provided by our professional teaching staff. While neither party is totally satisfied with the results, this agreement will enable the district to move forward while incorporating some significant financial gains for the taxpayers."

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