Schools

Miller Place Officially Announces Agreement With Teachers Union

Deal between the district and the Miller Place Teachers Association reportedly saves the district close to $2 million and avoids teacher layoffs.

The Miller Place School District officially announced the completion of contract negotiations with the teachers union; four-year agreement that will save the community nearly $2 million, according to a release.

The agreement includes a freeze of all other salaries, including those of club advisors, tutors and coaches, for the first two years of the agreement, and avoids teacher layoffs, which saves the district about $400,000 in unemployment compensation. Also in the deal, the 2.7 percent the district expected to owe the teachers as a result of the budget planning process in one year is spread out to small increments through 2016.

“The four-year contract with the Miller Place Teachers Association provides for significant savings in school district expenses while maintaining the highest standard of education for all of our students," Board of Education President John Magnani said in a release.

Find out what's happening in Miller Place-Rocky Pointwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"This agreement provides a sound, fiscally responsible foundation for our district’s long-term stability, which includes saving extracurricular activities and programs necessary for student development.” 

The deal also includes two new starting steps with decreased salaries for new hires, the preservation of student courses and the nine-period day at the middle and high schools, and also calls for the district and the teachers union to work collaboratively to seek an additional health care option which will lower costs for both the district and employees. Patch blogger Scott Mandia first discussed some of the details of the agreement .

Find out what's happening in Miller Place-Rocky Pointwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

These savings are coupled with attrition and concessions made by district administrators early in the budget process. Mr. Magnani expressed appreciation on behalf of the Board for the spirit of cooperation and support exhibited by the Miller Place School District community throughout this past school year.

“With the help of the Teachers Association, Administrators, PTO, Athletics Booster Club, Friends of the Arts and Robotics Booster Club, and with the strong support of our district residents," he said, "we were able to pass our budget and reach a teachers agreement that allows us to better serve the entire constituency of the...district."

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