Board of Education Approves Teacher Contracts

The Westport Board of Education unanimously approved three-year teacher contracts Monday, beginning in July 2010 and stretching to June 2013.

The board avoided going into arbitration after negotiating the contracts with local teachers' union Westport Education Association.

Teachers salaries usually change yearly, both in a general wage increase and in moving up "a step." Step increases are based on a teacher's experience. 

The new contracts call for a general 2 percent wage increase for teachers in the contract's first year and no step increases.

"That is significantly different than what our wage increases have been in other years and also a big difference in the ways steps were approached," said superintendent of schools Elliott Landon. "We did this recognizing the (economic) climate we were in."

In the second year of the contract, teachers will get step increases. No one will get a general wage increase, except for teachers at the highest step who will earn a 1.79 percent general wage increase.

Based on varying levels of experience, teachers at the highest step can earn salaries between $74,000 and $102,000, according to documents on the district's Web site. About 100 of 550 teachers make up those at the highest level.

The third year of the contract calls for step increases and a 1.17 percent general wage increase for all teachers.

Health benefits also change in the contract. Teachers will have to contribute about 1 percent more with each year for insurance. Prescription drugs will also cost them up to $10 more depending on the type of drug they buy. Doctor copays can cost up to $25 per visit.

Assuming the board does nothing else, the teacher contracts represent about a 1.1 percent increase in its total budget, according to Nancy Harris, assistant superintendent for business.

Now the contracts go to the town's legislative body, the Representative Town Meeting. If it rejects the contracts, they go into arbitration - something the board wanted to avoid.

"I'm glad it didn't go to arbitration because I feel it's the Board of Education's responsibility to do everything they can to come up with a settlement that's fair," said board chairman Don O'Day, "and I think what we have here reflects that effort."