More than 550 members of the Great Neck Teachers Association and its four affiliate groups attended the Great Neck Public Schools Board of Education meeting Monday at Saddle Rock Elementary School to support GNTA president Sheila Henchy as she called for the board to come to a settlement in discussions about new teacher contracts.
“All of us work together with pride, and tonight all of us say, with one voice, that the time has come for a fair settlement for the Great Neck Teachers Association and its affiliates,” Henchy said.
The GNTA’s contract with the Board of Education expired on June 30.
Henchy said there have been discussions for new contracts since February, but the two sides have been unable to come to terms.
“It’s not a delay, we’re just in the midst of negotiations,” Great Neck Public Schools Board of Education President Barbara Berkowitz said.
Berkowitz added that she could not comment on negotiations until the process was over.
The school board meeting was scheduled to take place in Saddle Rock Elementary’s multipurpose room, but due to the high number of attendees it was moved to the school’s 508-seat auditorium.
Great Neck Public Schools public relations coordinator Jessica Vega said every seat in the auditorium was taken so people were forced to stand, meaning there were over 550 GNTA and affiliate members in attendance.
The GNTA, whose members all wore navy blue shirts as a sign of solidarity, is made up of the district’s teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, and occupational and physical therapists, according to a statement read by Henchy.
Their four affiliated groups are the Office Staff Association, the Paraprofessionals Chapter, the Adult Education Chapter, and the Per Diem Chapter.
Henchy acknowledged the difficulty school districts face under New York state’s tax cap, but said Great Neck schools have remained financially healthy due to stagnating wages accepted by teachers during previous contract negotiations.
“For the last six years the Board has acknowledged repeatedly that this is due in part to concessions made by our members through the last two contracts,” Henchy said. “We have sacrificed for these concessions. Our wages have stagnated while our health care costs have risen.”
Berkowitz said the board wants to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
“We are hoping that we come to an agreement soon,” Berkowitz said. “We greatly value our teachers here in Great Neck.”
