Pat-Med Teachers' Wage Freeze Saves $1 Million

The wage freeze that the Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers recently agreed to for the 2013-2014 school year will be save the Patchogue-Medford School District around $1 million, said Assistant Superintendent of Business Donna Jones at the April 15 Board of Education meeting at South Ocean Middle School.

Related: Pat-Med Teachers To Have Wage Freeze in 2013-2014

The wage freeze is part of a new contract that as previously reported also will not permit salary increases, but will allow salary increments, through the 2016-2017 school year.

Paul Pecorale, President of the union, told Patch that the union believes it is an investment back into the schools.

“We believe that its an investment back into our schools and our community, and we just hope that the school board will share the same mentality and exhibit that in its current budget and future budgets,” Pecorale said.

Salary increments will be permitted which will allow teachers to earn slightly more per year after the 2013-2014 school year Pecorale said, but he said it would not be significant. Pecorale clarified to Patch that the wage freeze includes sports and clubs that teachers can sign up for, but will remain at the same contractual rate as the current year.

“From our perspective its an opportunity to reinvest in the school district, look for some lower class sizes, look for potentially expanding on our electives,” Pecorale said.

During the public comment section of the April 15 Board of Education meeting, Pecorale asked Assistant Superintendent of Business Donna Jones how much money the freeze saves. Assuming current terms of teachers’ contract continued into the next year, Jones said the freeze saves the district close to $1 million.
Board of Education trustees Donald Atkins and William Lavelle thanked the teachers’ union during the meeting for taking the agreement.

“This year’s budget is a fair budget, and I want to recognize the collaborative efforts of the teachers’ union and the district are going to pass on savings to the taxpayers,” Atkins said.

Lavelle said that the re-negotiation allows overall costs to be less and can translate to an increased opportunity for students.

The Board of Education Budget Hearing which will the public’s opportunity to go through the adopted $167 million 2013-2014 school budget is taking place on May 9 at South Ocean Middle School at 7 p.m.

What are your thoughts on the wage freeze? Talk about it in the comments.

Also Check Out:

Pat-Med BOE Adopts Proposed $167 Million Budget

Pat-Med Teachers To Have Wage Freeze in 2013-2014