Hen Hud Reaches Settlement Agreement with Teachers Union That Will Restore Teaching Positions

Press release from the Hendrick Hudson School District: The Hendrick Hudson School District Board of Education unanimously ratified a new three-year agreement with the district teachers’ union, the Hendrick Hudson Education Association (HHEA), at the June 26, 2012 meeting of the Board of Education.

The agreement, which was ratified by the HHEA membership on Thursday, June 22nd, resulted in the restoration of six full-time teaching positions. The district also was able to restore three previously full-time positions as part-time positions through savings in operational costs. “We are relieved that we were able to restore these critical positions and as a result will be able to maintain our quality programs,” said outgoing Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel McCann. “This is one of the most reasonable, if not the most reasonable agreements in Westchester County,” continued McCann.

The agreement falls in line with the district’s goal of ensuring that all contracts be resolved with a total cost under the New York State tax cap (2%). The contract sets forth 0% increases for teachers for each of the four years. The step increment increases built into the contract are greatly reduced, so that the total cost of the agreement for the next three years is just under 5%.

Members of the HHEA will also see their contribution to the district’s health insurance rise to 10% annually by the contract’s conclusion in June 2015. Teachers currently contribute 7% for family plans and 4.5% for individual plans.

“On behalf of the Board of Education and the community, I would like to thank the HHEA for their commitment to restoring valuable positions while recognizing the difficult financial position the district was facing,” stated Board of Education President, Marion Walsh. We also thank the administrators involved in the negotiations who worked diligently to ensure that the contract met Board goals. “We value our teachers and are relieved that we have reached a resolution so that we may all move forward with the important work of educating our students,” she added.

“We are pleased and appreciative of the HHEA and its leadership for taking the necessary steps to bring this contract to resolution. This resolution is the result of 18 months of talks and some marathon negotiation sessions. The HHEA and the District were able to come together to resolve our differences and ensure that our students are provided with the very best education,” continued McCann.

“The HHEA is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the district. It was a long negotiation process. We thank everyone involved for their dedication to the children, the community, and the educators of the Hendrick Hudson School District,” said Doreen Halsall, Co-President of the Hendrick Hudson teacher’s union.According to McCann, “The leadership of the HHEA, Doreen Halsall, Gary Delcioppo and members of the negotiation team played a critical role in bringing this contract to resolution. I would like to offer a special thanks to Ron Longo, attorney for the district, and Tom Casey, NYSUT representative for the HHEA, who helped to balance perspectives in these challenging times.”

“I am pleased that both the district and the teachers were able to resolve this contract in the best interest of the students of Hen Hud,” remarked Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Monahan. “I would like to thank Dr. McCann and his team for their efforts to resolve this agreement and have it in place for the start of the new academic year,” he concluded.

The Hendrick Hudson Education Association represents the district’s 234 professional teaching staff.