Salaries Up 10%, Healthcare Costs Down

In CCS Pacts With Teachers, Food Service

COOPERSTOWN – The Cooperstown Central School District Board of Education approved labor contracts with its teachers and cafeteria workers at its monthly meeting Wednesday.  The packages will raise salaries more than 10 percent over the next three years.

However,  “the concession to change insurance consortia will result in a savings of roughly $500,000 in year-to-year health cost,” said Cooperstown Superintendent C.J. Hebert.

The new labor contracts with the Faculty Association, which represents teachers, and the Service Unit, which represents food service employees, bus drivers, custodians and other workers, feature a shift from the current CASEBP health plan to the NY 44 Health Trust Benefits Plan.

The contracts include a 3 percent salary increase for teachers retroactive to the 2014-15 school year and a 3.75 percent increase in the following three years.

The Service Unit will see a 2.75 percent retroactive increase for the 2014-15 school year and a 3 percent increase in the following three years, plus an additional $300 applied to base salaries each year.

The shift in health coverage will take effect on July 1 and will maintain the current contribution rate for teachers until July 1, 2016. It offers comparable benefits, while saving the district significantly on its health insurance costs.

“I feel that both units, the teachers association and service unit have been very reasonable and proactive in looking for ways to reduce costs for the district, while maintaining a competitive employment environment,” Hebert said.

On Jan. 27, representatives from NY44 consortium will present a general information session for employees in both bargaining units in the high school auditorium.