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After months of negotiations, the Syracuse City School District and the Syracuse Teachers Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The deal, if approved, will last for four years. The specifics of the agreement have not yet been made public, but the district spokesperson, Amanda Malinowski, confirmed the duration of the contract. Teachers and staff are expected to vote on the proposal next week.
The tentative agreement follows a previous contract rejection in January, which was primarily due to concerns over wages and sick leave. The district had declared an impasse in March, leading to the involvement of a state-appointed mediator. However, the district and union managed to reach an agreement before further state intervention was necessary.
According to CNY Central, the previous proposal included 4% annual salary increases for three years, revamped family leave time, and additional pay for extracurricular activities. However, the union members were dissatisfied with the additional workday and the proposed salary increases, which led to the initial rejection.
The Syracuse.com reported that the median pay for Syracuse city teachers is among the lowest in the region, which has been a sticking point for the union. The district has stated that the proposed 4% raises would be the highest in a decade and would place starting salaries in the top five of Onondaga County school districts.
Union President Nicole Capsello emphasized the need for the district to retain and recruit teachers, highlighting the importance of competitive salaries. The contract, if approved, will address some of these concerns and provide a framework for the district and teachers to move forward together.