The Citizen

When teachers in the Weedsport Central School District return from the Thanksgiving recess, they will be working under a new contract.

Superintendent Shaun O'Connor ratified a new five-year contract for faculty members with representatives from the Weedsport Teachers Association bearing witness on Tuesday.

The district's board of education voted unanimously during its Oct. 6 meeting to approve the contact, retroactively effective July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2011.

Based upon this contact, faculty members are entitled to salary increases every year beginning with a retroactive increase of 4 percent in 2007, O'Connor said.

Salaries will increase 4.25 percent for the 2008-09 school year, 4.35 percent in 2009-10 and 4.5 percent in 2010-2011.

The contract also reflects changes in the district's contribution to individual health care policies, O'Connor said.

Whereas in the past the district paid the full amount in benefits, it will be responsible for 96 percent in 2008-09, 94 percent in 2009-10 and 94 percent in 2010-2011, with effective dates of July 1.

Family plans remain the same with district contribution at 85 percent.

Teachers worked without a contract during the 2007-08 school year as district and WTA leaders underwent what O'Connor described as an “amicable” negotiating process.

WTA Co-President Emily Herrling said had nothing but praise for the process and the outcome.

“Both parties have the utmost respect for one another,” she said.

“We did it slowly and we did it deliberately, going through all the issues. We were very much able to find common ground.

“We remain an excellent district,” she added, “and I think the negotiation process reflects that. Just the deliberation and the time we spent on it, I think we do everything in an excellent manner.”

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net