SCARBOROUGH — Teachers have agreed to forgo a cost-of-living salary increase for fiscal year 2010, School Board Chairman Brian Dell’Olio said Saturday.

The agreement represents a $140,000 savings from the 1 percent increase budgeted for 2010 and affects about 300 teachers and others in the bargaining unit, board member Annalee Rosenblatt said. The teachers’ contract was scheduled to expire this summer.

A separate bargaining unit, which does not yet have an agreement, represents support staff and some other school employees.

The agreement between the board and the Scarborough Education Association, however, will honor step increases earned by teachers.

Negotiations are continuing over the number of days teachers will work next year, Dell’Olio said. This year, they have 185 days. The board has agreed to reduce that to 183 days; the union is holding out for 180 days, according to the board chairman. 

The board was challenged by the Town Council to come in with no pay increases in the budget after municipal workers agreed to hold the line for next year. About 25 school administration personnel not under union contract had already agreed to forgo a cost-of-living increase, but they, as well as municipal workers, will receive step increases.

The Board of Education had submitted a $35.6 million budget, but was asked by councilors to slash the figure by $800,000. The Town Council will hold a second reading and vote on the budget Wednesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. The school budget referendum will be held on Tuesday, May 12.

Peggy Roberts can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or proberts@theforecaster.net.


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