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Scarsdale Teachers, Board Of Education Agree On Four Year Contract

SCARSDALE, N.Y. - Following months of discussions and debate, the Scarsdale Teachers Association has reached an agreement on a four-year contract with the district’s Board of Education.

The Scarsdale Board of Education has reached a four year agreement with the Scarsdale Teacher's Association.

The Scarsdale Board of Education has reached a four year agreement with the Scarsdale Teacher's Association.

Photo Credit: Scarsdale Board of Education

After more than five months of negotiations, the two sides came to an agreement, which was unanimously approved at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, that will span from July 1 to June 30, 2020.

The contract includes a four-year average annual salary increase of 1.38 percent, with an increase in health insurance contributions for current employees by .5 percent each year, beginning in 2017. The contract also features a number of changes to the district’s Health Care Plan to “create substantial, long-term savings, including increases in minimum prescription drug co-pays and out of network deductibles.”

“The 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,” Schools Superintendent Thomas Hagerman said when 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.”

Beginning in 2017, teachers will also provide students with up to 80 minutes of additional classroom instructional time each week. The contract also includes new language regarding teachers’ Annual Professional Performance Review.”

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

Scarsdale Teachers Association President David Wixted noted that although the process was lengthy, and at times heated, both sides remained cordial and showed respect for one another.

“The new agreement between the STA and the Board of Education represents a continuation of the constructive dialogue between the faculty and the school district,” he said. “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 students.” 

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