Darien RTM Approves New Teacher Contract

DARIEN, CT — The Representative Town Meeting earlier this week overwhelmingly approved a new contract between the Board of Education and Darien Education Association (DEA) that will raise salaries for teachers.

The RTM voted 71 in favor, no opposed with an abstention.

The new contract will run from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026. Salaries in Darien Public Schools are based off experience and education level. Increases across all levels of experience were done through equal dollar distribution.

Salaries will increase $1,500 for steps five through 19, and $2,600 for step 20. There is a greater increase in steps five through 10.

The new contract reduces the total number of steps to 16, which in turn increases starting pay for younger teachers.

Under the new contract, Darien will now have the highest minimum salary in its District Reference Group. Starting salary will depend on the highest degree teachers have obtained.

"Before the new contract, if you have a master's [degree] and you start on the first step, you'd be making a salary of $54,941. Next year, the first hiring salary will be $60,454," DEA President Barry Palmer told Patch.

The year after that, the salary for a teacher with a master's on the earliest step will be $61,954. In 2025-2026, master's first step is $63,454.

Premium cost sharing will increase from 21 percent to 23 percent over the life of the contract.

All personal days will be "no reason days," paid maternity leave will be extended by five days and stipends will increase by 2.5 percent each year.

Overall, the new contract amounts to a 13.68 percent settlement, or a cumulative $6,361,006 over the course of three years.

The DEA and the Darien Board of Education began negotiations last fall in a time of great uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic, economic challenges and teacher shortages.

This year past year, Darien Public Schools lost more than 70 certified teachers in part due to retirements, teachers leaving the district or leaving the profession altogether.

"The DEA is grateful for all the respective boards' acknowledgement that this will help make the district more competitive while also rewarding the teachers who are already here. I think that was a balance both sides were trying to find, and I think we were successful in doing that," Palmer said. "We appreciate the level of communication we had with the Board of Education throughout the entire process, and I think it led to the right contract that both sides needed."

Palmer believes the contract will help keep teachers in the district. He pointed to not only the salary increases, but quality of life enhancements with regards to personal days and maternity leave.