District reaches 4-year contract with teachers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> The Saratoga Springs City School District and the Saratoga Springs Teachers Association have reached a four-year contract agreement.

The agreement is effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2022 and covers approximately 500 teachers.

The SSTA ratified the agreement on Sept. 18 and the Board of Education approved the agreement during the Sept. 27 school board meeting held at Saratoga Springs High School.

“We believe this agreement is a positive outcome,” said Superintendent of Schools Michael Patton. “We are appreciative of the work that went into the negotiations process and the common goal that was shared for Saratoga Springs to remain competitive in the teacher recruitment process with our Suburban Council neighbors. The district appreciates the faculty association’s willingness to consider the needs our students and the long-term financial impact on our local taxpayers.”

Key elements in the agreement include:

• Salary increases exclusive of increments as follows: — 3.13 percent for 2018–19, — 1.6 percent for 2019–20, — 1.63 percent for 2020– 21 and — 1.64 percent for 2021–22. • Employee health insurance contributions will increase as follows: — 1.0 percent for 2019-20, — 1.0 percent for 2020-21, — 1.0 percent for 2021-22, and — 1.0 percent on June 30, 2022.

The increase in health insurance contributions will save the school district an average of almost $200,000 annually, a news release said.

• Members of the SSTA will be able to select all health insurance plans offered by the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES consortium, which could realize additional savings for the district.

• The addition of a 30-minute after school activity period two days a week for secondary teachers to offer students additional academic support. One hour a week will be added at the elementary level for teacher collaboration time.

“The Board of Education appreciates the dedication and commitment of the members of the faculty association to our students,” Brad Thomas, president of the Board of Education, said in the release. “The board acknowledges the outstanding effort by the district and the faculty association to reach an agreement that increases student contact time and helps

reduce the rising cost of health insurance.”

“We believe this agreement shows a shared goal to be competitive within the capital district and to make sure we are able to recruit the best teachers in the area for our students,” Tim McGuiggan, president of the Saratoga Springs Teacher’s Association, said in the release.