Board Approves Three-Year Contract with Garden City Teachers' Union

The board of education unanimously approved a new contract with the Garden City Teachers' Association (GCTA) at Tuesday's special board session.

Kevin Pollitt, GCTA president, told Patch that teachers ratified the three-year collective bargaining agreement Monday with "overwhelming support" and that the association looks forward to "maintaining a positive working relationship with both the administration and the school board, ensuring that the Garden City School District continues to provide a quality education."

"The teachers recognized the economic challenges the school district faces and worked hard to reach an agreement that was fair to both sides," Pollitt said. "In the end, the GCTA was able to make concessions that brought the school district fiscal stability while still obtaining a contract that acknowledges the dedication and commitment teachers have to educating the students of Garden City."

In addition to yearly incremental increases through steps, teachers will receive a 1.25 percent raise in 2010-11, a 1.5 percent increase in 2011-12 and a 1.25 percent raise in 2012-13, which will finish the contract.

The district will delay the incremental "step down" for teachers six months to Feb. 1, 2012 in year two of the agreement, providing the district with a one-time savings of $415,000, according to Greg Guercio of Guercio and Guercio LLP.

The last contract expired on June 30. Under New York State law, all provisions of the previous contract remain in place until both sides agree on a new contract, which takes effect immediately and runs through June 30, 2013.

"I think it's a fair and equitable agreement for both sides," said board of education president Colleen Foley.

"I echo her sentiments," superintendent of schools Dr. Robert Feirsen said.

Garden City has the last annual increases in teacher salary since the recession began in 2008, according to Guercio, and has on average a 1.33 percent raise. Roslyn is second with 1.6 percent.

The district also came to an agreement with the GCTA on an appeals process, which Guercio claims is the first of its kind on Long Island. Now, the superintendent will have final say on a teacher's assessment rather than a potentially costly arbitration process that takes power from the district.

"All in all, we believe that the totality of this settlement is best for everyone," Guercio said.