Contract ratified for Hilton school district's teachers

With a vote of 269 to 15, members of the Hilton Central School Teachers Association (HCSTA) ratified a three-year contract with the Hilton Central School District.

The contract spells out a 4 percent salary increase over the three year period, a change in health care provider to BluePoint2 and a significant change in the structure of the retirement incentive and the post-retirement health plan. Contract negotiations began in December 2003 and concluded before the current contract expires on June 30.

HCSTA President Kathleen Donahue said the membership felt it was a good contract for the teachers. "When we began the process we knew it would be a difficult budget year because of the lack of leadership in Albany," she said. "I'm glad we were able to reach an agreement at a time when so many things are in flux."

Hilton's Assistant Superintendent for Business, Steven Ayers, said that contract negotiations are difficult in the best of times but they are made even more complicated because there is no state budget in place. Because the state budget has not been adopted, the district and the teachers association agreed to changes in the contract whereby the district offers eligible teachers a local retirement incentive. "Sometimes the retirement incentives are enticing to those teachers who are on the fence about retiring," Ayers said.

As part of the contract, those who opt in will receive $20,000 over three years and $50 for each unused sick day, up to 300 days, Ayers explained. Teachers who are eligible under the state retirement system will be eligible under the local incentive system. It is expected that there are seven to 10 teachers who will accept the incentives.

Ayers also explained that the district expects a savings of $50,000 over the next year and more in the future as a result of the switching of health care providers.

Donahue said the entire contract package provides excellent benefits to members while still recognizing the district's needs to be fiscally responsible.

The new contract runs from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007. It covers 380 teachers.