Schools

BOE: First B-REA Proposal Has Too-High Costs

Board of education president Evan Lerner responds to B-REA comments concerning negotiations.

The did offer a zero percent raise in year one of a new contract, said board of education president Evan Lerner—but costs beyond that were too high.

Negotiations are continuing between the B-REA and the board of education after an impasse was declared in June—mediation began in December and an at Tuesday's board of education meeting. The teachers' contracts expired June 30.

"The B-REA's last offer to the board included a zero percent raise in year one, and an agreement to transition to the state health plan," he said in regards to , made after Tuesday's meeting. "But it also provided for significant raises in years two and three, and left the entire burden of spiraling healthcare premiums on the district."

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With that offer, Lerner said, the package would have cost the district between 12 percent and 15 percent over three years, or about 5 percent on average per year.

"Increases of this magnitude were and remain unacceptable to the board," he said.

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As for comments at Tuesday's board of education meeting about the , Lerner said there was actually nothing to report until now.

In June, Lerner said, the B-REA declared an impasse and opted to instead move forward with mediation, which was held for the first time in early December.

"And we provided an update at the first board meeting following the mediation," he said. "Between June and Dec. 8, there were no negotiations, and therefore there was nothing of substance to report."

"I did this in an effort to, at a minimum, let the community know the status of negotiations," he said, of providing a statement to the public at Tuesday's meeting.


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