Feb. 14, 2012—The Schalmont Board of Education unanimously approved a five-year teachers’ contract on Feb. 13 that is expected to provide the district substantial savings next year.

The new teachers’ contract covers the period from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2014, and was ratified after more than two years of negotiations.

“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement that helps limit some of our cost increases and acknowledges the difficult fiscal times currently facing our school district and the community,” said Superintendent Dr. Valerie Kelsey.

The contract includes an average annual salary increase of 1.2 percent with a zero percent increase in 2012-13, exclusive of step increments that are guaranteed by state law.

The majority of savings are achieved through health insurance changes. The STA agreed to switch to a less-expensive health care plan, which provides similar coverage at significant savings to the district. Teachers also agreed to double the annual employee contribution rate, from five to ten percent, which will increase anywhere from $300 to $1,200 based on coverage. Together, these changes are expected to save the district $390,000 annually.

“Given the difficult economic climate, we believe this is a fair and appropriate contract that showcases teachers’ commitment to saving programs and jobs while recognizing the quality education we provide,” said Schalmont Teachers Association President Mary Beth Flatley.

In 2012-13, an additional $48,000 in savings will be achieved by forgoing funding for the district’s Innovations in the Development of Educational Achievement (IDEA) grant program. Additionally, the stipend for Nationally Board Certified teachers was reduced by $1,000, which will provide long-term savings.

The teachers’ contract includes new language affirming the STA’s commitment to developing and implementing the state’s new evaluation program known as APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review) as required by the Race to the Top grant awarded to New York State by the U.S. Department of Education. A committee has been working to meet the new regulations that require training and certification for evaluators, development of a new data analysis process and scheduling evaluations. Schalmont is on track to make the new program operational by September.

Additional contract language clarified areas of day-to-day operations, including the teacher mentor program and seniority in the event of staff reductions. Such clarification is timely because the district has eliminated more than 13 percent of its workforce over the past few years due to declining enrollment, increasing costs and decreasing state aid, said Kelsey.

In mid-January, district officials estimated that the school board would need to make up to $600,000 in budget reductions to stay within the district’s estimated tax levy limit for 2012-13 under the state’s new property tax levy cap.

With the savings realized through the new teachers’ contract, the budget gap is projected to be around $300,000-$340,000, which will help minimize the effect on students. 

“Concessions made by several bargaining units this year will help strengthen the district’s financial position and ease the budgetary challenges we’re facing for next year,” said Kelsey.

Both the Schalmont School-Related Professionals Association and the Schalmont Administrators Association made similar salary and health benefit concessions when their contracts were ratified earlier this school year. Additionally, Central Office staff and business personnel agreed to a pay freeze for the 2012-13 school year.

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