Teachers Finally Get New Contract
“Nobody’s a better Observer of the news than the Record.”
RECORD
VOLUME NINETEEN, ISSUE 52
75¢ Visit The Record online at
www.LongIslanderNews.com
LONG ISLANDER NEWSPAPERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012
20 PAGES
NORTHPORT-EAST NORTHPORT
Teachers Finally Get New Contract Four-year deal freezes pay, gives cash payouts and raises insurance contributions Record photo/Mike Koehler
UTN President Antoinette Blanck responds to the school board’s approval of the Memorandum of Agreement.
By Mike Koehler [email protected]
The drought is over. After nearly two years without a contract, the United Teachers of Northport (UTN) and the Northport-East Northport Board of Education approved a deal on Tuesday. “I am very grateful this long contract dispute has been resolved,” school board President Stephen Waldenburg said. Union members ratified the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) earlier on Tuesday, with the board unanimously ratifying it after the budget results were announced. UTN President Antoinette Blanck said the new contract is a four-year deal with a hard freeze in year one. There will be no
salary increments in the next three years, although step increments will return. Teachers at step 20 – the highest possible – will receive a cash payment each of the last three years. It starts with $1,500 in year two, grows to $1,650 in year three and caps at $1,850 in year four. The deal also includes increased health insurance contributions by teachers and teachers’ assistants, up to 21 percent and 19 percent, respectively. The agreement, Blanck added, also includes the same sunset clause that will prevent automatic raises when the contract expires on July 1, 2014. “I think the membership sent a message that we’re respectful of the economic situation,” she said. (Continued on page A18)
TOWN OF HUNTINGTON
Budgets Pass, With Some New Board Faces Record photo/Mike Koehler
Northport-East Northport Once an hour of tedious counting and legalities finally came to an end at the William J. Brosnan School, the single biggest surprise of Tuesday night wasn’t what the voters approved. It’s who they didn’t. The Northport-East Northport School District’s budget and capital expenses were approved, but Board of Education Vice President Donna McNaughton lost her seat after one three-year term. “I did my best,” she said. McNaughton joined President Stephen Waldenburg, newcomer James Maloney and newcomer David Badanes in seeking three three-year terms. Incumbent Kristen Gavin’s forthcoming departure from the district opened the third position. Waldenburg finished in front with 2,965 votes. “People have said I try to be fair in the way I hold meetings. I do try,” he said. “I just want to be fair and let all voices be heard.” Badanes finished second with 2,754 votes. Acknowledging he doesn’t have all the answers, the newcomer pledged to ask questions.
President Stephen Waldenburg leads a round of applause for Vice President Donna McNaughton after learning her term will end. “I’m looking forward to being a part of that board,” he said. Fellow newcomer Maloney bested McNaughton’s 2,484 ballots with 2,638 of his own. “It’s going to be an interesting road ahead,” Maloney said, admitting he was worried after not receiving editorial support from other publications.
At the same time, taxpayers supported the proposed $153,941,712 budget by a score of 2,826-1,461. The budget will increase the tax levy by 1.68 percent, increasing spending by 1.83 percent over the current $151,178,758 budget. The now-approved budget also entails $142,786 in savings by not replacing three employees who have left since December, $75,000 in cuts from expenses at McDermott’s discretion and additional $225,000 of reserves used, up to $2.425 million, from the original proposed budget. It also protected new costs, like 76 security cameras, a new school bus and the district’s first furniture-replacement plan. Voters also overwhelmingly support proposition No. 2, which permitted spending $845,000 from capital reserve accounts, by a 3,433-806 decision. That funding will allow for installation of a duel-fuel boiler at Bellerose Avenue Elementary School, and univents at both East Northport and Northport middle schools. Other capital projects are built into the budget. Plans called for $1.6 million to be used for improving bathrooms at Ocean Avenue Elementary School, renovating the high school auditorium and installing a generator at the William (Continued on page A18)
LONG ISLANDER NEWSPAPERS: WINNERS OF TEN N.Y. PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS SINCE 2008
Asharoken Mayor Town Prepares Candidates Gear Parks, Beaches Up For Race A3 For Summer A5
THE FOODIES DO
The Shack A10
RECORD
VOLUME NINETEEN, ISSUE 52
75¢ Visit The Record online at
www.LongIslanderNews.com
LONG ISLANDER NEWSPAPERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012
20 PAGES
NORTHPORT-EAST NORTHPORT
Teachers Finally Get New Contract Four-year deal freezes pay, gives cash payouts and raises insurance contributions Record photo/Mike Koehler
UTN President Antoinette Blanck responds to the school board’s approval of the Memorandum of Agreement.
By Mike Koehler [email protected]
The drought is over. After nearly two years without a contract, the United Teachers of Northport (UTN) and the Northport-East Northport Board of Education approved a deal on Tuesday. “I am very grateful this long contract dispute has been resolved,” school board President Stephen Waldenburg said. Union members ratified the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) earlier on Tuesday, with the board unanimously ratifying it after the budget results were announced. UTN President Antoinette Blanck said the new contract is a four-year deal with a hard freeze in year one. There will be no
salary increments in the next three years, although step increments will return. Teachers at step 20 – the highest possible – will receive a cash payment each of the last three years. It starts with $1,500 in year two, grows to $1,650 in year three and caps at $1,850 in year four. The deal also includes increased health insurance contributions by teachers and teachers’ assistants, up to 21 percent and 19 percent, respectively. The agreement, Blanck added, also includes the same sunset clause that will prevent automatic raises when the contract expires on July 1, 2014. “I think the membership sent a message that we’re respectful of the economic situation,” she said. (Continued on page A18)
TOWN OF HUNTINGTON
Budgets Pass, With Some New Board Faces Record photo/Mike Koehler
Northport-East Northport Once an hour of tedious counting and legalities finally came to an end at the William J. Brosnan School, the single biggest surprise of Tuesday night wasn’t what the voters approved. It’s who they didn’t. The Northport-East Northport School District’s budget and capital expenses were approved, but Board of Education Vice President Donna McNaughton lost her seat after one three-year term. “I did my best,” she said. McNaughton joined President Stephen Waldenburg, newcomer James Maloney and newcomer David Badanes in seeking three three-year terms. Incumbent Kristen Gavin’s forthcoming departure from the district opened the third position. Waldenburg finished in front with 2,965 votes. “People have said I try to be fair in the way I hold meetings. I do try,” he said. “I just want to be fair and let all voices be heard.” Badanes finished second with 2,754 votes. Acknowledging he doesn’t have all the answers, the newcomer pledged to ask questions.
President Stephen Waldenburg leads a round of applause for Vice President Donna McNaughton after learning her term will end. “I’m looking forward to being a part of that board,” he said. Fellow newcomer Maloney bested McNaughton’s 2,484 ballots with 2,638 of his own. “It’s going to be an interesting road ahead,” Maloney said, admitting he was worried after not receiving editorial support from other publications.
At the same time, taxpayers supported the proposed $153,941,712 budget by a score of 2,826-1,461. The budget will increase the tax levy by 1.68 percent, increasing spending by 1.83 percent over the current $151,178,758 budget. The now-approved budget also entails $142,786 in savings by not replacing three employees who have left since December, $75,000 in cuts from expenses at McDermott’s discretion and additional $225,000 of reserves used, up to $2.425 million, from the original proposed budget. It also protected new costs, like 76 security cameras, a new school bus and the district’s first furniture-replacement plan. Voters also overwhelmingly support proposition No. 2, which permitted spending $845,000 from capital reserve accounts, by a 3,433-806 decision. That funding will allow for installation of a duel-fuel boiler at Bellerose Avenue Elementary School, and univents at both East Northport and Northport middle schools. Other capital projects are built into the budget. Plans called for $1.6 million to be used for improving bathrooms at Ocean Avenue Elementary School, renovating the high school auditorium and installing a generator at the William (Continued on page A18)
LONG ISLANDER NEWSPAPERS: WINNERS OF TEN N.Y. PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS SINCE 2008
Asharoken Mayor Town Prepares Candidates Gear Parks, Beaches Up For Race A3 For Summer A5
THE FOODIES DO
The Shack A10
