WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F.Bailey. June18, 2009 UPDATED 6:10 P.M. E.D.T.UPDATE 10:20 P.M. in Italics:  Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors confirmed Thursday afternoon the first two years of the tentative teachers' contract call for 2% and 2%, respectively, but said the third year increase was 1.25%. WPCNR is checking back with the Superintendent to see if the 2-1/2% reported by a holder of the MOI  for the third year is contingent on approval.  Connors did not divulge further details except to say in brief written statement,

"There are other saving in insurance and the cost for the third year is 1-1/4 %."

WPCNR has learned from a source familiar with the school district-teacher Memorandum of Understanding  circulated to members of the White Plains Teachers Association, that the leadership and the Board of Edcuation have agreed in principle to a three year contract through 2010-11.

The contract increases wages 5.25% over three years, over and above the automatic step raises for longevity which are currently 3.8%, creating an overall raise over three years of 16.65%, an average of 5.5%  a year, if the current longevity pay increase of 3.8% earned automatically every year for the first 20 years.

The tentative settlement also  increases the share of health premiums teachers must pay, and eliminates the most expensive health care benefits provider.

The contract, the source says,  holds the wage increases to 2% for 2008-2009, 2% in 2009-10 and 2-1/2% in 2010-11, the third year. In the third year, the 2-1/2% does not kick in until February 1 of 2011. The wage agreement is in line with the increase awarded the Civil Service Employees Association (500 employed in the School District) two weeks ago, which also agreed to drop the largest health care provider.

The District and the Teacher Union negotiating team also reached a compromise teacher payment of health benefits with the Teachers Union shifting the way teachers pay for their benefits from a fixed dollar amount to a fixed percentage of the total premium amount. Teachers will pay 8% of their health care premium in 2009-10, and in 2010-11 it will move to 9%. WPCNR has been informed there is no cap on the percentage of the dollar increase. The increase in dollar amount on the 8%, WPCNR has been advised, is less than $100 the first year.

The health care provider the teacher negotiating team agreed to drop was Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

The School District has not returned a request to confirm or elaborate on these basic "meetings of the minds."