Rye Board of Education and Teachers Union Agree to Partial Salary, Step Freezes

The Rye City School District has sent the following press release regarding the Board of Education and the Rye Teachers Association agreement:

 The Rye City School District Board of Education and the Rye Teachers Association have voted to approve a memorandum of agreement that modifies and extends the existing contract between the parties. The new agreement will run from July 1, 2013 to June 30th, 2015. The current agreement was scheduled to expire on June 30th, 2013. 

 There is a 0% salary increase in the 2013-14 school year, and a 1.5% increase to salary during the 2014-15 school year that does not take effect until February 1, 2015. This means that over the 24-month course of the agreement, a salary increase of 1.5% is only paid in the last five months. In addition, salary ‘step’ increases will be frozen for the first seven months of each year.

Changes were also agreed upon for health insurance premium contributions for active staff and retirees, along with reduced buyouts for those who waive the right to accept health insurance, all of which result in lower costs for the school district. Members of the union who have reached step 15 on the salary schedule will also receive a one-time payment of $1,750 that does not accrue to salary.

 “All of these measures will help slow the rate of growth in spending on the salary line of the budget, and we are grateful to the RTA leadership for recognizing the importance of enacting these changes,” said Board of Education President Laura Slack.

 The RTA Negotiating Team stated, “The RTA believes that the agreed upon MOA takes into account the interests of all parties in a fair and professional manner.”