By Doug Miller
The deal calls for no salary increase in the first year, according to sources, although Superintendent of Schools Robert Greenberg would not confirm that, and no details of the agreement were made public. Sources on both sides expressed relief that the contentious standoff was over, but representatives said that none of the contract's specifics could be released until they were formally certified.
"We have a tentative agreement, and a memorandum is being formulated," said Frank Volpe, the union's president. "It has to be reviewed, it has to be signed. Then we have to eventually have a ratification."
Volpe said he would call a meeting of union members prior to the first day of school Sept. 6. Greenberg said he would schedule a board meeting immediately afterward for the district to sign off on it.
The union, which represents hundreds of members, had grown impatient with the Board of Education, which it believed was demonizing the union for the trustees' own political gains. Last May the union ran its own candidate against former board president Roy Lester in a failed attempt to unseat him. Most board meetings and even a few school events during the last year were picketed by union members wearing bright T-shirts.
Greenberg was in his office Wednesday morning, riding the adrenaline of the late night. "I'm pleased we have a tentative agreement," he said, "and once we have a memorandum of understanding with the teachers, I'll be happy to release the details of the deal to the public."
School board Vice President Steven Weitz said he was similarly pleased that the battle was over, and called it "a fair agreement for the teachers and a fair agreement for the taxpayers."
Danny Teigman contributed to this story. Comments about it? DMiller@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
