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Council OKs Teachers' Contract

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Legislative Council Wednesday approved a new three-year contract that will

increase the salaries of the 325 members of Newtown teachers union.

The council declined to vote on the issue. State law allows a town's finance

board 30 days to reject a contract, so by taking no action, the council

essentially approved the contract. The package will increase salaries an

average of 3.1 percent. The new deal takes effect July 1.

For the first year, the new contract will cost the town an extra $550,000. The

Board of Education will reportedly offset the increased cost of salaries with

savings in health care for teachers and an early retirement package to be made

available to teachers next year.

The pay raises were aimed at increasing salaries to the newer teachers at the

lower end of the pay scale. Under the former contract, according to

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed, Newtown paid the lowest salary to

teachers with a bachelor's degree and five or more years experience when

compared to nine neighboring towns within commuting distance.

Though the council gave its approval, member Karen Blawie suggested that the

council request that future pay raises negotiated by the Board of Education be

based on merit -- a relatively new concept when it comes to teachers. A

similar plan has been set up in the town of Cheshire. Mrs Blawie's idea was

discussed, and there were some who agreed, saying no one deserves a raise just

because a year has passed.

Some council members questioned who would be responsible for individual

teacher evaluations. And some wondered how parents would feel if their child's

teacher did not receive a positive evaluation.

In the end, however, no action was taken. Chairman Pierre Rochman sent the

issue on to the council's education committee for further study.