Debate Continues over Teacher Contracts in Rye City School District

Dr. Iris Knight Arest, a Rye City School District psychologist, was the first to address the school board at Tuesday's meeting and her words received a standing ovation from the more than 40 teachers present in the middle school cafeteria five hours after the end of classes.

"We are no longer the ideal family in Rye," Knight said in a prepared speech. "It is clear that the board does not respect our opinion."

Since 2007, Rye City School District teachers and administration have been involved in heated negotiations over the teachers' contract.  Under New York State Law, teachers work under the most recently signed contract until a new agreement is reached. 

"The last contract signed was for the 2006-2007 school year," said district superintendent Edward Shine. "So that is the contract teachers work under now."

But the confounding variable that makes Rye unique to most other local school districts is that teachers were not working under un updated contract when the economy began its downward spiral in 2008.

"Most districts settled their contracts before the recession, and now they're going through the catatonic experience of asking unions to reopen negotiations because taxpayers can't support the agreed-upon salary increases," Shine said.

In September, 2008 and June, 2009 school board president Joshua Nathan sent letters to the community expressing his frustration at demands put forth by the Rye Teachers' Association.

"The RTA has also suggested that because Rye's taxes are among the lowest in Westchester County relative to home values, we should just raise taxes to meet the cost of the RTA's demands," Nathan wrote in 2008. "This logic is troubling. That we have managed to retain one of the lowest taxrates in the county is because of good fiscal management, not because our teachers' salary and benefits package is deficient."

But teachers don't agree, saying they are among the lowest-paid teachers in Westchester and that the lack of a formal contract is polluting the quality of education offered in Rye.  

"This terrible situation is demoralizing the wonderful teachers that work here," said Lisa Jenner, a middle and high school Latin teacher. 

Jennifer Johnson, a foreign language instructor also responsible for recruiting teachers for her department, added that not having a contract hurts Rye's chances of securing the best candidates.

"We are currently searching for three Spanish teachers, competing against other high-achieving districts," she said. "And our efforts are being hindered by the lack of a contract."

Longtime teacher and lauded football coach Dino Garr rounded out the public remarks, saying,  "Now is the time to assure our schools stay on top."

Once all six faculty members had spoken, Nathan assured the teachers that negotiations would continue, but reiterated that difficult economic times continue to put pressure on the school to reduce costs.

"We have done everything we can to avoid cutting teacher positions," Nathan said. 

Because 78 percent of the school's budget comes directly from employee salaries and benefits, he sid that the board was in a particularly tough situation.

The school board and RTA continue to meet in small-group sessions, which include: the Superintendent, three board members, seven teachers and an attorney.

Although the content of the discussions could not be disclosed for confidentiality reasons, Shine said he was optimistic that an agreement would be reached. 

"Every time we meet I am optimistic," Shine said. "This is just such a difficult situation because the community loves and supports the teachers but they also support the board in understanding the economic reality."