Board of Education President Shari Bardash-Eivers discussed the details of the new three-year contract proposal for the Farmingdale Federation of Teachers at Wednesday’s organization meeting in the Howitt Middle School Library Media Center.
“In this year’s budget, we had 2.5 percent allocated for step increases and no raise negotiated,” said Bardash-Eivers. “The first year of this contract is a 1.25 percent increase in the 2011-12 school year with a delay of step increases, which means that it’s the same 2.5 percent but it’s 1.25 percent as a negotiated raise and 1.25 percent in step, so it’s still the same money. In the second year, it’s a true zero increase or wage freeze for the school year 2012-13, with no increase in salary or step increase. In the third year, it’s similar to the first year, with a 1.25 negotiated increase in the 2013-14 school year and a delay of the step increase, so that’s again equal to 2.5 percent for the whole year.”
Bardash-Eivers stressed that the contract was fiscally responsive to the community and educational needs of the students in the district.
“We recognize the significant value this agreement brings to the district and also takes into account current fiscal issues,” she added. “It’s a difficult time for the district. It’s a difficult time for the state. It’s a difficult time for education in general. There are a lot of unknowns coming from the state. There’s a lot of angst all over the place. I see it as our teachers working as part of a team by ratifying this contract.”
In other matters, the Oath of Office was administered to the new officers elected to the board, including Bardash-Eivers (President) and Steve Wilson (Vice President). Several other appointments were made by the board to complete their reorganization efforts prior to the start of the 2011-12 school year.
New appointments include Josephine Murray (District Clerk), Mary E. Rogers (Assistant Districk Clerk), Elizabeth Hrybenko (Treasurer), Donna Riccardi (Deputy Treasurer), Rosemarie Perl (Claims Auditor), and Eileen Zilg (Deputy Claims Auditor).
Other notable appointments for the 2011-12 school year include those of Guercio & Guercio (General Counsel), Dr. Karl Friedman (District Physician, various per diem rates), Thomas Ostrom (Attendance Officer), Diane Pedicini (Elementary Treasurer/Extra Curricular Claims Auditor), Mary Driscoll (Howitt Middle School Extra-curricular Treasurer), Nawrocki Smith (Independent Auditor), H2M (District Architect), Judy Sorrentino (Purchasing Agent), and Antia Dazzo (Assistant Purchasing Agent).
Hearing Officers Arthur Riegel, Esq. and Howard Edelman, Esq. were also appointed positions, as well as Insurance Consultant Bollinger Inc. The board also designated the following as Banks of Deposit for the 2011-12 school year: Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Capital One, TD Bank and TSBC.
The hours designated for the annual budget vote and election were also established, as the board voted to approve voting times as 6 a.m. through 9 p.m. Additionally, a motion was made to designate the Farmingdale Observer and Massapequa Post as official newspapers for legal advertising and notices for the district, and Newsday for supplemental advertising.
Later in the evening, an instrument use fee of $35 was approved for students who wish to use music instruments over the course of the 2011-12 school year, or $40 for the inclusion of summertime rental.
The Board of Education will meet again on Wednesday, Sept. 14. at 8 p.m. for a regular monthly meeting in the Howitt Middle School East Cafeteria. Please check the official Farmingdale Board of Education website (http://farmingdaleschools.org/fps/boe.cfm) for a full list of meeting dates.
