New Teacher's Contract Requires More Classroom Time

The Board of Education and the Scarsdale Teacher's Association announced a new four-year contract at the BOE meeting on Monday night June 20. The agreement calls for raises of 1.5% for the first two years, 1.3% in year three and 1.2% in year four. It also calls for employees to increase their contributions to their health insurance from 7.5% to 8.5% over the life of the four year contract.

Another interesting element of the contract is a provision which requires teachers to do more teaching. The contract calls for teachers to provide additional classroom instructional time for students at all levels with 80 more minutes per week at the elementary and middle schools and 75 minutes more per week at the high school.

According to the agreement, a committee will be assigned to study how best to use this additional time, but if the board does not agree to the committee's recommendation, the contract stipulates the following:

Elementary Schools – 8 minutes more class time at the beginning and end of each day.
Middle School: An additional 2 minutes to each class
High School: An additional 2 minutes to periods 2,3,4,6 and 7 and an additional 3 minutes to period five.

So watch for changes in your child's school schedule next year.

Here is the press release on the agreement from the Scarsdale School District

After five months of negotiations, the Scarsdale Board of Education and Scarsdale Teachers Association (STA) have reached an agreement on a four-year contract extending from July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2020, which was unanimously approved at a Board of Education meeting on June 20, 2016.

"This new contract represents an extremely collaborative and thoughtful effort, one of the major goals we set out to achieve at the beginning of the process" said Superintendent of Schools Dr..Thomas Hagerman in announcing the agreement. "The approved changes are responsive to the needs of our students, teachers, and District, and will allow us to continue focusing on our shared work of educational excellence."

Board of Education President, Leila Maude, noted: "The Board is extremely pleased with our agreement which provides for additional learning time for our students, restructured healthcare benefits, and salary adjustments. The Board believes this contract provides a sustainable financial foundation for our District over the next four years."

Board Vice President, Bill Natbony added: "The agreement reflects the culmination of a respectful process through which a mutually acceptable contract was achieved that will enhance learning and maintain the economic integrity of the District's self-insured health care program and overall budget."

Highlights of the new agreement include:

Salary
● The contract provides a four-year average annual salary increase of 1.38%. Year one has a 1.5% increase; year two contains a 1.5% increase; year three contains a 1.3% increase; and year four contains a 1.2% percent increase.

Health Insurance
● Health insurance contributions for current employees are increased over the life of the contract to 7.5% in 2017-18; 8% in 2018-19; and 8.5% in 2019-20.

● Contributions for all retirees eligible for District paid health care insurance will also begin for those retiring after July 1, 2018, with 3% contribution for service of 30 years or more, 5% for service of 20 years or more, and full employee contribution for service between 12-19 years.

● A number of provisions in the Health Care Plan were also significantly adjusted to create substantial, long-term savings, including increases in minimum prescription drug co-pays and out of network deductibles.

APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review)
● New language was agreed on that conforms to the law and is included in the contract.

Instructional Time
● Effective with the 2017-18 school year, teachers will provide students with additional classroom instructional time as follows: Elementary schools, 80 minutes per week; Middle School, 80 minutes per week; and High School, 75 minutes per week.

David Wixted, STA President, summed up the process by noting, "The new agreement between the Scarsdale Teacher Association and the Board of Education represents a continuation of the constructive dialogue between the faculty and the school district. Though the conversations that led to this settlement were at times contentious, they were nonetheless conducted in a manner where both sides demonstrated their mutual respect for each other. In the end, we reached a settlement that addressed the needs the two sides brought to the table, and which will ensure the stability of the District so we can all continue to focus on the education and advancement of Scarsdale's students."