Babylon Schools sign new 4-year contract with teachers
By Janine Logan
By a 5-1 vote, the Babylon Schools Board of education approved a contract members of the Babylon Teachers Association, which had previously ratified the agreement. The vote took place on Monday, May 12, at the district's regular board meeting. Board member Roger Katz dissented, saying, "There is nothing in this contract with which I disagree. My no vote is for items not presented in the contract." Katz was referring to the mechanism through which teachers' salaries are calculated. Currently, Babylon, like the majority of school districts on Long Island, relies on a complex spreadsheet that includes steps and tiers tied to their length of service in the district and college credits. In addition to across-the-board raises, teachers get increases based on these steps as they reach the various levels of longevity and earn educational credits. In a subsequent conversation, Katz explained that although the board had discussed the possibility of revising the spreadsheet, there was no motion to bring any change to the table when the current contract was being negotiated, something he said he wanted the community to know. Negotiations began last November, according to Superintendent Ellen Best-Laimit PhD, and the spreadsheet reform suggestion came too far into the negotiations to be included in the discussions. Dennis Lally, president of the Babylon Teachers Association, confirmed at the board meeting that the "plan Katz proposed was never put in front of us." Katz maintains that the current system leads to confusion, and that additional educational degrees or college credits does not make anyone a better teacher nor should it require an increase in pay. "Change is needed from the bottom up," said Katz. "We have a great working relationship with our teachers union." First-year teachers in Babylon with a bachelors degree earn $45,725; with a master's the salary is $51,671. The highest paid position is for a teacher with 30-plus years, master's degree plus 75 credits at $117,000. The district points out, however, that the majority of teachers in the district are at the lower or median level. The four-year contract becomes effective July 1, 2008 and calls for an average yearly increase for teachers of 2.97 percent. This translates into a 2.5 percent increase the first year, followed by a 3.0 percent increase in year two, a 3.5 percent increase in year three, and a 2.9 percent increase in year four. The percentage of contributions to health benefits per employee is currently 11 percent and this will rise to 16 percent per employee during the course of the contract. Other contract items include the restriction of columnar movements on the compensation table from the current two to one per year. Teachers receive an increase for additional credits and degrees earned. They must earn 15 credits in order to move. At least nine must be graduate credits and six in-service. Not part of the contract, but ripe for future discussion, is an agreement between the teachers union and administration to discuss evening parent teacher conferences. Also negotiated in the contract is the formation of a committee to address a teacher-based e-mail communication system. The average value of all step increases is 1.9 percent. Teachers move along the step schedule for 16 years, receiving a step increase each year. In addition, the teachers receive yearly increases approved in their contracts through years 16. At year 17 they are moved off step and receive longevity payments awarded cumulatively at years 17, 20, 23, 27, and 30. One-third of Babylon's teachers are off step.
In related matters, Richard Skelly asked the board to be more transparent and clearer regarding the total package of teacher compensation.
"When delivering representation of compensation, it should be broader, representing step and longevity increases," said Skelly "It is misleading to the average taxpayer in this community. I am asking this board to communicate in a clearer and more forthright fashion than before." "I disagree that the salary increase is an average of 2.97 percent… it exceeds 6 percent when you put it all together," Skelly said. Skelly also maintains that the current step and tier system directs payments toward inputs, not outputs. "It is costly because you can't distribute money based on motivation," said Skelly. For the future, he asked the board to consider forming an advisory group comprised of members of the community who have expertise and knowledge in contract negotiation and design. Board member Thomas Melito noted that such issues as step schedule reform and merit increases have been discussed for the past 35 years. "This issue is much bigger than the Babylon School district. At this point, it is not really possible to put pay for performance in our schools," said Melito. "Good negotiations have taken place," said Lally. "Our commonality has always been to provide quality education that the children of Babylon deserve. With the support of the administration and staff, we will continue to do so."
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