Greenwich BOE Approves 2015-2017 GEA Contract

havemeyer plaque 18892The following is a statement from Board of Education Negotiations Committee Chair, Peter Sherr.

“The Board of Education and the Greenwich Education Association have reached an agreement for a 2015-2017 Contract. We are pleased to have achieved mutual agreement on a two-year contract that meets the financial expectations of Greenwich taxpayers and maintains our ability to attract and retain a high quality teaching staff.  The contract provides for a General Wage Increase (GWI ) of 0.68% in FY2016 and 0.88% in FY2017, plus a reinstated Step increase based on increasing levels of experience to allow us to compete effectively for talent with other Fairfield County communities.

While there are no major changes to healthcare benefits in the proposed contract, the purpose in agreeing to a two-year contract is based on the uncertainty of the national healthcare environment. Both parties would have preferred a longer contract, however, the uncertainties in planning for the long term made a two-year agreement the best path forward.

The BOE and GEA are creating a special committee to make recommendations that optimize and maximize direct teaching time and professional collaboration in order to increase student achievement.  The committee will present recommendations to the Superintendent and the BOE by March 2015.

I would like thank the members of the BOE Negotiations Committee, including other members of the BOE and staff, as well as the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) and Greenwich Labor Relations Department for their engagement and commitment in helping us to reach this agreement. Additionally, the Board of Education appreciated the collaborative and thoughtful manner with which the GEA deliberated this contract.”

Related Story:

Contract in Limbo, Greenwich Teachers Want a Middle Class Lifestyle, If Not a Home in Town


Image

Email news tips to Greenwich Free Press editor [email protected]
Like us on Facebook

Twitter

Subscribe to the daily Greenwich Free Press newsletter.