Warrensburg teachers opt for less costly health care in new contract

Sept. 16--WARRENSBURG -- Warrensburg faculty members are beginning the school year under a new contract, in a refurbished building and with a new website.

Before they left for summer break, the Board of Education approved a new four-year pact. The teachers agreed to switch to the less-expensive Alternate Preferred Provider Organization health insurance plan through the local BOCES and increase their contribution to the premium from 14 percent to 17 percent.

The changes will save the district about $100,000 annually, according to Superintendent John Goralski.

The average salary increase is 3 percent over the course of four years. However, Goralski said the changes in health care payments offset that, so the net increase in teacher compensation is an average of 1.04 percent per year.

Goralski said he is pleased that the deal got done before the previous contract expired June 30.

"I think the teachers were very cooperative in switching to a less costly insurance program, which saved the district money and allowed us to give them what I think is a very fair salary increase," he said.

The starting salary for 2015-16 is $40,558. Teachers on the top of the salary schedule -- step 26 -- earn $80,707 this year. About 80 years are covered under the contract, according to Goralski.

In addition, nine teachers will be designated teacher-leaders and help design curriculum and professional development for their colleagues. They will receive a stipend of $2,060, according to Goralski.

This contract expires June 30, 2019.

This is a smoother process than last time, as the previous contract was not approved until January 2013, which was two years after negotiations began and 18 months after the last agreement expired.

The teachers at that time agreed to increase their health insurance premium contribution gradually from 10 percent to 14 percent and drop the more expensive Matrix health care plan. Those who elected to remain on that plan had to pay the difference between its cost and the Preferred Provider Organization, or PPO, plan.

Over the summer, the district's buildings also got a makeover. The elementary school's roof was replaced. It had been leaking so badly that staff members used to have to put buckets in various locations to collect dripping water. Other aspects of the $1.2 million capital project were installing more energy-efficient lighting, replacing rusty doors, providing a better play area for children and doing some general site work.

Goralski said there are just a few "punch list" items to complete.

"The majority of the work got completed just in the last days of summer. The courtyard at the elementary school has been getting rave reviews from the students," he said. "The elementary roof is done and the solar panels are back up."

U.S. Light Energy had installed solar panels previously. Goralski said the company came to remove them temporarily so the roof could be replaced. There were no issues. U.S. Light Energy recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which has held up new projects, but these were ones already installed.

State aid paid for about $800,000 of the cost, with the remaining $400,000 covered by money remaining from the high school renovation project in a capital reserve fund.

Also new this year is a revamped district website. The process took a lot longer than school officials thought, Goralski said. The district is also working on an app that would be compatible with the website. He said he hopes to launch it later this fall.

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