Longer school year, new teachers support, part of new agreement

The Hilton Central School Teachers' Association (H.C.S.T.A.) and the Hilton School District reached a settlement on a four-year contract, June 2000-June 2004, which was approved by a vote of the Association December 11 (273-17) and adopted unanimously by the Board of Education at its December 12 meeting.

Hilton Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Cooper, pleased at the way the contract was settled, said, "A great deal of effort in the negotiation process was focused on supporting student learning. The contract itself is an enhancement of the quantity and quality of student-teacher contact time increasing the teacher work year by two days, from 185 to 187. The district's eight half-day consultation days have been replaced by two half-days and two full-day conference days. This results in an increase of four full days students are in attendance. This increase, in conjunction with the extra student day added in the contract, brings the total full-student days from 174 to 179 improving the instructional value of the time while reducing possible disruption to family schedules the half-days may have caused." According to district officials, the contract addressed teachers salaries increasing an average of 4.3 percent over the four years which includes an increase due to extending the teacher's work by two days.

"The contract provides more quality time for teachers and students to meet the challenges of the new standards while recognizing the needs for proper compensation," commented H.C.S.T.A. President Kathleen Donahue.

In addition, the contract expands staff development training days in new teachers' contracts from three days to eight days their first year giving a new teacher a 195-day work year and three additional staff development days in each of their next two years, according to Hilton spokespersons.

Further provisions broaden the district's computer incentive to encourage greater teacher competency and promote technology use in the learning process. An incentive for teachers who earn a masters degree in reading/English language arts is also included.