After previously announcing that the two parties had arrived at an impasse in their negotiations, the Herricks Board of Education revealed at its July 1 meeting they had finally reached an agreement with the teacher’s association for a new four-year contract.
The new deal runs from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018.
Board of Education President James Gounaris noted the deal had been struck after an intense session of negotiations attended by both parties that stretched overnight at times.
“The past few years have been difficult ones for Herricks, and the relationship with the community and the Herricks Teachers Association has been contentious at times,” he said. “In the current environment on Long Island, some contracts have remained unresolved for years. It is a testament to the commitment of the district and the union’s new leadership that we were able to reach an agreement within a reasonable time frame.”
Gounaris said that it was the act of getting all parties involved in the situation into one room for “brutally honest communication,” that enabled them to overcome their previous differences and arrive at a
mutually beneficial deal.
“We reached what we believe is a fair contract that addresses the district’s priorities and is designed to maintain the educational excellence we have come to expect in Herricks, while respecting the wallets of the taxpayers, the student’s needs, and the teachers,” he said. “The process was not easy…some days leading into nights, with the last ending at almost 2:30 a.m.”
Superintendent of Schools John Bierwirth went over some of the details of the new contract with the Teacher’s Association, which covered salaries.
“The contract includes a salary freeze for 97 percent of the teachers in the first year, fair and reasonable increases in subsequent years, a freeze on extra-curricular compensation, and a new, lower starting salary for those newly hired by the district,” he said. “In addition, there will be increased insurance contributions for active employees and retirees, putting us at the forefront in Nassau County, and greater flexibility regarding staffing and managing the school calendar.”
An impartial mediator was going to be appointed by the New York State Public Employment Relations Board to assist the parties in reaching a settlement. Herricks avoided that expense.
“We thank the teachers for their professionalism during the process and look forward to continued success for the district and our students,” Gounaris said.
Board Reorganized
Gounaris and Christine Turner, who both recently had successfully run for re-election to the board of education, were officially sworn into their new three-year terms as trustees by Assistant Superintendent for Business Helen Costigan. She herself took on additional duties that evening, as she was appointed by the board as the new District Clerk for the 2014-15 school year at no additional compensation.
The board also unanimously voted to appoint Gounaris to another one-year term as its president, and chose Nancy Feinstein to serve another one-year term as vice president.
