Again, Sharon springs Central School has asked its teachers’ union to consider a pay freeze and again, union representatives have said they’re considering it.
“In light of the current economic situation here and everywhere, we just felt it would be irresponsible if we didn’t ask,” said Business Administrator Tony DiPace.”
Teachers Association President John Walker said they recognize the severity of the situation.
“When I brought it [the freeze] to teachers, they were very solemn; there weren’t a lot of questions,” he said.
“We realize the state isn’t going to step in like last year and we all want Sharon to succeed as a school.”
Working from a baseline budget of $8.5 million, SSCS is hoping to keep the tax levy increase at four percent.
So far, administrators have proposed some $254,300 in staffing cuts—including an elementary teacher, a special education teacher, and cutting the librarian’s position from full to part-time--but reaching the four percent goal would require an additional $178,298.
That, said Mr. DiPace and Superintendent Pat Green, is where the wage freeze could come in.
“We really appreciate the fact that our teachers are even willing to discuss this,” Mr. Green said.
“That they’d even consider it says a lot about our district. In other places, they’d just get up from the table and walk away. We see this as a win-win situation.”
Both Mr. DiPace and Mr. Green said the SSCS administration has offered teachers an additional day off next year—in the form of one less Staff Development Day--plus two half-days—instead of full days--during Regent’s Week, something Mr. Walker confirmed.
Both also said those were concessions the teachers asked for in wage-freeze talks last year.
Additionally, Mr. DiPace said, they’ve agreed to compensate teachers who will be retiring with something like a “stipend” so the freeze doesn’t put them at a disadvantage when it comes to their retirement.
Mr. Walker said union leaders planned to share the offer with teachers yesterday, Tuesday, and then meet to answer questions Wednesday.
They’ll wait till the Monday following the Easter break—April 12—to vote.
“We want people to have a chance to think about it, to run it by their spouses,” he said. “It’s a big decision that will impact them over their career.”
Though Albany is still jiggling the figures, SSCS is expecting to see a loss of $271,149 in state aid next year.
Some of the proposed staff cuts—namely the elementary and special education teachers—however, come as the result of declining enrollment and depending on the kindergarten numbers, there could be additional cuts.
Mr. Walker said teachers have been working on their own list of places they feel the district could save money.
“A lot of people travel to work here and you don’t do that if you don’t love your job,” he added.
“We want to see the school stay here for Sharon and for the community.”