RSS 2.0 FeedJanuary 27, 2011, Wantagh Seaford Citizen
Wantagh board addresses labor, budget concerns
Teacher contract negotiations continue.
Without a contract since it expired on June 30, over 100 members of Wantagh United Teachers, sporting their gray union shirts, made their discontent known at the January 20 Board of Education meeting.
The teachers’ union has been in negotiations with the district for almost 11 months, and, with no satisfactory resolution, has reached an impasse.
Reading from a prepared statement, Wantagh board President Jean Quinn said that the district and the Wantagh United Teachers have been involved in negotiating a collective bargaining agreement in a process that formally began on March 2, 2010, and the parties have met on 12 separate occasions.
A declaration of impasse has been made, and the district and the association have jointly agreed upon a mediator to assist in the process of resolving their differences. The Board of Education has been involved in the process, and intends to remain fully engaged throughout, she added.
“Painful” budget cuts
The impasse comes at a critical juncture, as the district prepares its 2011-12 budget. “At this time,” said Mrs. Quinn, “the facts that we know are: the Teachers Retirement System and the Employees Retirement System payments have increased 33% and 39%, respectively. We are losing at least $1.4 million in state and federal aid and the governor is proposing a 2% tax cap.”
The Board of Education and Central Administration are examining budget cuts that will be what Mrs. Quinn describes as “painful.” Areas under consideration include, but are not limited to: a Princeton Plan (reassigning grades to different buildings); class size, staff and faculty reductions; and consolidation.
“Our main goal is to continue to support our students’ academic endeavors, while taking into consideration the economic difficulties our community is facing,” said Mrs. Quinn.
The union and the district have another meeting scheduled next week with a third-party mediator.
“Fair contract” needed
Wantagh United Teachers President Tom Vereline made an impassioned speech on behalf of “a fair contract” for the teachers, expressing “sadness and anger” that, despite repeated attempts to reach common ground, the board had shown no desire to reciprocate.
He noted that the union is well aware of current economic conditions, and that early on in the negotiations, was open to a three-year settlement that was the lowest in the county.
Mr. Vereline criticized the board and administration for taking a “hard-line approach” with all five bargaining units – teacher aides, clerical staff, monitors, nurses and teachers.
“If you were an outsider looking in, what would you conclude, what seems more likely?” he asked. “That all five bargaining units, acting independently, were being unreasonable, or this board was being unreasonable?”
A former trustee replies
Former Wantagh Board of Education trustee Christopher Wendt took the microphone following Mr. Vereline’s plea, describing the recognition the board gives to new teachers, teachers who have attained advanced degrees, and the district’s retirees.
“It is painfully obvious that the stress and tension we have here tonight is really not the way it is in Wantagh most of the time,” Mr. Wendt said.
“We have to do this as a Wantagh family and not be at odds with each other. We need to do some real serious soul-searching before we come to an agreement so we can do something before we’re too deep into the budget season.”
The evening’s board meeting was a study in contrasts: what ended as an emotional appeal for a fair contract began with a performance by the high school’s flute ensemble, followed by an awards ceremony for exceptional students and a featured presentation of the district’s outstanding Report Card.
Students honored
In continuing the district’s tradition of honoring students at board meetings, Superintendent Dr. Lydia Begley honored 50 students from elementary through high school with certificates for achievement in athletics, art and music, including participants in NYSSMA; All-County chorus, band and orchestra; and other regional musical performances.
Members of student government reported on various student achievements, including the high school presentation of “Beauty and the Beast” in early February; and student participation in Science Olympiads, Sports Night, Model Congress, the first place Varsity Academic Team, and the wrestling team, which holds the top spot in the county.
Ralph Spagnolo, president of the Wantagh Foundation, reported that the district’s summer recreation program will run from June 27 to July 28.
As part of its regular proceedings, the board approved an Intermunicipal Agreement between the district and Nassau County, with $16,000 in funding provided by Legislator Dennis Dunne, Sr., to purchase and install a baseball field backstop at Wantagh High School. Superintendent Begley thanked the legislator for his generosity.
An excellent report card
Presenting the School Report Card for 2009-10, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Pat Krizan, noted that the state raised the bar on English and math assessment tests for grades 3-8, as to the number of questions students had to get right to reach proficiency. Nevertheless, Wantagh’s students still consistently score higher than those in the region.
The percentage of Wantagh students who passed the English and social studies state Regents exams were in the high 90s. One hundred percent passed foreign language Regents exams, while 99% passed the algebra and geometry exams. In various science Regents exams, the number of students passing ranged from 89% to 100%.
Ms. Krizan reported that in 2010, 99% of Wantagh’s students graduated with Regents Diplomas; 76% with Regents Diplomas with Advanced Designation.
“It makes me proud to be here,” said Ms. Krizan. “It could not be done without everyone’s dedication and hard work.”
The next Wantagh Board of Education meeting will take place on Thursday, February 10, at 8 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The agenda for the next meeting, as well as transcripts of this and previous board meetings, are available at the district’s website, wantaghschools.org.
