School district, teachers reach accord

The South Huntington School District announced Tuesday it has reached a three-year pact with its teachers union.

The contract calls for a complete salary freeze for 2012-13; a 2 percent raise in 2013-14 but no step increase; and a step increase but no raise in 2014-15.

"Everybody is hurting all over the country," said Dennis Callahan, the teachers union president who represents more than 500 members. "When times were good, we asked to reap those benefits; and now that times are tough, everybody has to pitch in."

The board also restored full-day kindergarten which had been cut to half-day, and middle school sports, which had also been cut for next year due to budget constraints. It also put back in for next year the fall theater drama program and a part-time dance teacher.

Callahan said the union gained some quality-of-life benefits, including an increase in the number of sick days that can be used as personal days; the ability to use business days for religious leave; the ability to take a half-day off; and two years' maternity leave, with the second year unpaid. Employees will face no increase in the percentage they pay for health care.

A statement by the district reiterated the Board of Education position "that savings from the teachers' contract concessions would go toward restoring educational programs in the district."

Total teacher pay for 2011-12 is $47,858,930, with an average salary of $94,704, according to Callahan. He said the 2 percent increase in year two of the contract calculates to $957,178, while the step increase in year three totals $1,039,324. Negotiations began in January. The current contract expires June 30.

"We're all on the same page," Callahan said. "The problem is the constraints put on us by this [2 percent] tax cap from Albany, so we're not the bad guys, the school is not the bad guys; the board, the district, we're all in this together in trying to find a way to navigate the storm."