Pearl River school district renegotiates contracts

Pearl River school district:

The teachers and administrators unions have agreed to contract givebacks for the 2011-12 school year to stave off extensive cuts to programs and staffing positions.
The renegotiated contracts were approved Monday and will reduce salary increases for 217 teachers and 11 administrators. School officials said Tuesday that would realize between $900,000 and $1.5 million in savings for the district over the next four years.
The revised agreement cuts teacher salary increases from 2.6 percent to 0.6 percent for the 2011-12 school year. Administrators will see their 2.75 percent salary increase for 2011-12 reduced to zero.

These givebacks may save about 17 teacher positions and elementary music programs, middle school art and technology instruction, along with some high school courses.

But financial problems are likely to continue.

Superintendent Frank Auriemma praised the teachers and administrator s for the voluntary givebacks, although he warned that future reductions in the 2012-13 school year were likely.

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Pearl River teachers, administrators agree to $1.5 million in givebacks

Mar 23, 2011, Written by Alex Taylor

PEARL RIVER — The teachers and administrators unions have agreed to contract givebacks for the 2011-12 school year to stave off extensive cuts to programs and staffing positions.

The renegotiated contracts were approved Monday and will reduce salary increases for 217 teachers and 11 administrators. School officials said Tuesday that would realize between $900,000 and $1.5 million in savings for the district over the next four years.

The revised agreement cuts teacher salary increases from 2.6 percent to 0.6 percent for the 2011-12 school year. Administrators will see their 2.75 percent salary increase for 2011-12 reduced to zero.

"These are challenging times for all of us," Kevin O'Connor, a social studies teacher at Pearl River Middle School who heads the teacher's association, said in a statement. "Many of our members have young families. Many are currently paying for their own graduate degrees as our profession requires. Some have spouses who are out of work and other financial hardships. However, they made the welfare of our students, the protection of their colleagues, and the needs of our taxpayers their priority."

Like many other school districts in Rockland, Pearl River is facing a tough budget season that includes $851,000 less in state aid this year under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed budget, plans for a property-tax cap and taxpayers' economic angst.

Last week, the district notified 17 teachers that their jobs would be eliminated at the end of the school year to help close a $950,000 budget shortfall. Assistant Superintendent John C. Morgano, who takes over as superintendent in July, said most of those positions would now be restored.

Also facing possible elimination are elementary school band and orchestra programs; elementary and middle school library instruction; and eighth-grade advanced art and technology instruction. Pearl River is also planning to cut two college-level courses and consolidate math, science, social studies, language, art, technology and physical education classes at the high school. It was unclear whether the district would now be able to preserve those programs.

Superintendent Frank Auriemma praised the teachers and administrator s for the voluntary givebacks, although he warned that future reductions in the 2012-13 school year were likely.

The Pearl River Board of Education has endorsed both agreements, and is expected to approve the two revised contracts at its next meeting, Tuesday. Several members of the Pearl River PTA declined to comment Tuesday, saying they hadn't had a chance to review the news.

Rockland's eight public-school districts stand to receive $20.2 million less in state aid and have been facing deep cuts in programs and large-scale layoffs.

East Ramapo's proposed budget has a 7 percent tax increase and more than 100 cuts in staff and reductions in programs such as kindergarten, after-school programs and transportation. North Rockland may cut 60 positions, and Nanuet could see as many as 10 positions cut.