WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. June 22, 2009: Kerry Broderick, President of the White Plains Teachers Association in a statement to the CitizeNetReporter moments ago announced the 651-member White Plains Teachers Association voted "overwhelmingly" to approve a new three year contract with the school district, upgrading teacher pay across all step and degree levels by 17%.

Kerry Broderick, President of the White Plains Teachers Association. April 13,2009. WPCNR News Archive

As first reported last week by WPCNR, the settlement, Ms. Broderick said, gives the teachers a 2% increase "across all step levels" retroactive to July 1, 2008, 2% as of July 1, 2009 (coming up in 9 days), and 2-1/2% effective February 1,2011. Broderick said the raise in 2011 is a "net" 1 and a quarter percent, but the contract expires June 30 of 2011, 6 months later.

Broderick said 400 of the 651 teachers are still in the step schedule, and 200 of those in the step schedule have been with the district less than 10 years. 

On health care benefits Broderick confirmed the increase from 7% to 8% teacher share of their health care in 2009-10 and to 9% in 2010-11. Broderick said increase in the teacher share of health care would cost a family of more than two persons $150 a month.

Broderick confirmed all step levels and longevity increases would go up 2%, but she did not view it as receiving "2 raises" since teachers did not have the ability to change jobs for more money in the education marketplace as easily as the persons not in the educational field.

The increase across step levels in addition to the 2% equates to about 5.5% a year raises across all step levels, computing to 17% percent.

The School Board is expected to approve the contract this evening at the Board of Education meeting at 5 Homeside Lane.