Central Greene teachers receive new contract
Teachers in the Central Greene School District have a new contract after union members and the board both approved the terms of the new five-year deal this week. The new contract, which is retroactive to Aug. 28 when the previous pact expired, gives all 180 teachers in the Central Greene Education Association an average salary increase of 3 percent in each year of the agreement, according to superintendent Dr. Jerome Bartley.
The district has changed health insurance coverage, moving to a Preferred Provider Organization from the indemnity plan, a change that will save the district in insurance costs, he said. Teachers will be required to make co-pays for prescription medications as part of the new coverage, he noted.
Teachers and administration agreed on an extended work year that adds five days to the year and will be devoted to professional development activities related to new mandates, the No Child Left Behind Act or other initiatives that the district would like to implement.
“Teachers will be paid a flat rate or receive Act 48 credit hours,” he said. “It’s a really good step for both sides.”
The contract does not include a one-time retirement incentive payment, but it does include language that will reimburse teachers for any unused sick time, up to $20,000, upon retirement.
“We’re hoping that change will drive down substitute teacher costs if we can cut down on sick days,” Bartley said.
Union members ratified the contract during a meeting Sunday, while school board members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the deal. Bartley said the district had been in negotiations with the CGEA since January.
“Overall, we feel it’s a fair contract and both sides are pleased with the outcome,” he said. “We’re ready to move on.”
Along with Bartley and business manager Walter Stout, board members that served on the negotiation team were Board President George Scott, Bob Evick, Joanne Brookover, and Andrew Corfont.
During this week’s board meeting, directors approved annual salary increases for administrators, as part of the Act 93 administrative compensation agreements.
The 3.2 percent increases were determined by reviewing the July national Consumer Price Index, Bartley said.
Administrators receiving the increases are Stout, elementary principal Dr. Cathy Butcher, and high school principal Albert Veverka, Bartley said.