Comments on: Nyack Schools, Teachers Agree To New Contract http://www.nyacknewsandviews.com/2010/03/nyack-schools-teachers-agree-to-new-contract/ Community news and opinion for Nyack, NY Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:25:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: r.tannenbaum http://www.nyacknewsandviews.com/2010/03/nyack-schools-teachers-agree-to-new-contract/comment-page-1/#comment-894 r.tannenbaum Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:49:45 +0000 http://www.nyacknewsandviews.com/?p=8180#comment-894 This all sounds good, but if you pull the curtain back a bit you will see that the highest paid teachers in the District all got cash bonuses last year (despite the so-called freeze). You will also see that the raises aren't limited to the percentages described. There are other built in raises for teachers every year just for remaining employed another year. 30 days off for a 182 day school year seems like a pretty good deal for the teachers. And the District still cannot extend the school day or the school year without the teachers' union's permission. No additional contributions toward employee health care or retirement. No ability to outsource any teaching functions. Still, given the reality of our times, the negotiators for the District probably did the best they could. They were likely not given a mandate to try to make real change. This all sounds good, but if you pull the curtain back a bit you will see that the highest paid teachers in the District all got cash bonuses last year (despite the so-called freeze). You will also see that the raises aren’t limited to the percentages described. There are other built in raises for teachers every year just for remaining employed another year.

30 days off for a 182 day school year seems like a pretty good deal for the teachers. And the District still cannot extend the school day or the school year without the teachers’ union’s permission. No additional contributions toward employee health care or retirement. No ability to outsource any teaching functions.

Still, given the reality of our times, the negotiators for the District probably did the best they could. They were likely not given a mandate to try to make real change.

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