East Williston administrators OK deal with 1-year freeze

The Island Now

The Board of Education is pleased to announce that the district has settled negotiations with the administrative and clerical units.

The administrators settled for a four-year contract that includes a freeze in wages during the first year of the contract, with an average 1.3 percent wage increase over the term of the contract. The clerical agreed to a four-year contract that includes a zero percent increase in the first year and averages a 1.14 percent wage increase over the term of the contract.

Administrators will continue to contribute 20 percent to their health insurance while clerical will continue to contribute 18 percent towards their health, except for new clerical hires that contribute 20 percent. Additionally the clerical unit has agreed to a flat opt out health payment, in lieu of taking the benefit, saving the district an estimated $85,000 over the life of the contract.

Earlier this month Gov. Cuomo and the state Legislature agreed on a budget that cuts school aid $1.3 Billion dollars (6 percent) without giving school districts the mandate relief they so sorely need in order to control escalating costs.

As reported by Newsday, school taxes are heading sharply higher on thousands of homes and businesses across Long Island.

The governor believes the solution is in a 2 percent tax cap recently approved by the state Senate If approved by the state Assembly, the tax cap would go into effect in the 2012-13 budget. Without mandate relief, this could have a devastating effect on school budgets in the future.

The Board of Education recognizes the challenges ahead of us and has acted on the factors within its control. The settling of these contracts will help this district control costs in the coming years. While Albany continues to struggle with the financial consequences of this economy and New York’s fiscal crisis deepens, this Board of Education and school community will continue to work together to protect the future of our children and this district.

Mark Kamberg

President

Robert Freier

Vice President

Robert Fallarino

Trustee

David Keefe

Trustee

Barbara Slone

Trustee

 

Share this Article