Contract negotiations

Question: It is my understanding that a new teachers' contract is being or will be negotiated. The overall costs associated with the teachers represents the largest part of our school budget and, unfortunately, the largest increases year after year. In order to help the district's financial issues, some drastic changes need to start happening here with the new contract so we can retain teachers, provide a wide array of courses, have a sports program and other beneficial clubs and programs so B-P can produce a well-rounded student ready for the next level. Considering our district's current financial problems and the likely event that more financial problems will exist in years to come, what is the Board of Education planning to do with this new contract to minimize further strains on the district's finances and, ultimately, the education of our students?

Answer: The Board of Education and administration are currently involved in negotiations with the Broadalbin-Perth Teachers' Association (BPTA). Both sides of this negotiation -- the district and the union -- are interested in preserving programs for B-P students and containing costs, both over the short-term and long-term. New York State laws governing the relationships between public employees and their employers restrict what either party can say publicly during the negotiations process, but we can tell you that the majority of our conversations are centering on salaries and insurance costs.
- answered by Ed Szumowski, Board of Education President

Budget update

Question: Last year at this time, we were in the midst of a difficult budget process. The district did a good job with the public forums informing the taxpayers as to the tough situation our district faced. At the time we were warned that the next year's budget would be just as difficult. My question is, where do we stand as a district in formulating next year's budget and what tough choices are being contemplated at this time, including the progress on negotiations with the teachers' union?

Answer: Our budget situation is different this year than in the past because of changes made at the state level. Our state aid and our local property tax levy -- Broadalbin-Perth's primary sources of revenue -- have, for the most part, already been determined. Because of this, our budget situation is fairly black and white -- I encourage you to read the letter I sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this month to learn about the cuts we will have to make if our situation remains the same.

Are contract negotiations coming up?

Question: Now that the vote has come and gone and the Board has chosen to adopt a contingency budget, I would like to know:

A. When is the teacher's contract is up?
B. When do negotiations commence on the new contract?
C. How does the process of negotiations occur (is the whole board involved, or a few members from a committee?)
D. How restricted is the board in negotiating because of NYS law?
(as evidence of the thoroughly defeated budget, and the fact that teacher salaries and benefits constitute such a large portion of the budget, I feel it is imperative the board use this opportunity to reign in spending of teacher salaries to the best of its ability come time for the next contract.)

Answer: A. The teachers' contract expires at the end of June 2012.
B. Negotiations on a new contract will begin in Fall of 2011.
C. A subcommittee of the Board of Education will work with the superintendent, business administrator and the district's legal counsel to negotiate the new contract.
D. The Board of Education must abide by the Taylor Law and the Triborough Amendment. For information about the Taylor Law, click here.

Contract negotiations

Question: Will the Board of Education make public their "threshold" limits on topics such as salary schedules and both pre- and post-retirement benefit packages in regards to the labor contract negotiations prior to the negotiations taking place in, I believe, 2012?

Answer: No -- this would be against the law. Negotiations with all labor unions are confidential and are conducted in closed sessions.

Typically, negotiations begin sixth months before a contract is scheduled to expire. The contract you're referring to is the Broadalbin-Perth Teachers' Association's (BPTA) contract, which expires at the end of the school's fiscal year, on June 30, 2012. The district plans to have legal council that specializes in labor negotiations negotiate this contract -- something that has not been done in the past.
- answered by Stephen Tomlinson, District Superintendent