School Nonunion Raises Clarified

To the Editor:

After reading last week’s article in The Bee related to the Board of Education providing raises to their nonunion employees [“School Salary Hikes, Bonuses Spark Outcry”], I felt that it was important to provide more information and clarify the board’s actions.

In regard to the issue of employees receiving raises, those nonunion staff members include a tutor for the blind, job coaches, reading tutors, technology specialists, occupational therapists, some secretaries, and security. These people pay at least 11.5 percent of their insurance, which is more than town employees pay, and many of them are affected by the furlough days, so even with the 1.5 percent increase, nearly half will make less than this year. The entire cost for this 1.5 percent is only $15, 968. It is important, however, to show them some increase so they are not encouraged to become unionized.

The four central office administrators had their contracts rolled forward with no increases. What was reported in the newspaper does not indicate that all had zero percent increase in their pay. Both the superintendent and assistant superintendent are the only nonunion personnel belonging to the Teachers’ Retirement Board (TRB), so the Board of Education gave them a two percent increase for retirement purposes only, as the equivalent amount was given back in unpaid furlough days. There is no increase in costs for these four administrators, other than a $100 monthly mileage reimbursement for the assistant superintendent commensurate with her actual mileage driven. As a matter of fact, they were the first to come forward volunteering a contract freeze.

The Board of Education operates on a fiscal calendar that begins on July 1, hence nonunion employee salaries must be set in June. Every one of our six unions has had their pay impacted.

I hope this provides some clarity to this issue.

Elaine McClure

Chair, Board of Education

32 Ashford Lane, Newtown                                                 July 1, 2009