Branford Teachers Receive Pay Raises, New Contract

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

BRANFORD, CT – A three-year teachers’ contract which Representative Town Members said wasn’t overly burdensome on Branford taxpayers was overwhelmingly approved by the RTM at its December 13th meeting.

The contract, which begins July 1st of 2018 and runs to June 30th of 2021 will bring average salary increases of 2.38 percent the first year, 2.71 percent the 2nd year, and 2.76 percent the 3rd year.

That will add $526,000 to the approximately $22 million teachers’ contract costs in 2018; $629,000 the following year; and $656,000 the last year.

Part of those increased costs, however, will be offset by the teachers being responsible for a higher portion of their insurance premiums – 16.5 percent in year one, 17.5 percent in year two, and 18 percent in the last year.

The teachers co-pay for prescription medicines will also increase each year of the contract – $10 in year one, $25 in year two, $40 the last year.

RTM member Frank Twohill praised school administrators, teachers’ negotiators and RTM members for working on a contract that, he said, “comes in lower than other towns” agreements.

Fellow RTM member Ed Prete concurred, stating the contact was “extremely fair to certified staff and mindful of taxpayers.”

“I believe it’s a fiscally responsible contract,” said Prete.