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Step increases are generally given to teachers every year until they reach a certain level and are usually one or two percent. Wage increases are in addition to that.
For the second year of the two-year contract, the teachers will get a 2 percent wage increase and a step-increase.
There will be no change in insurance for the first year, but in the second year, there will be increases in premiums for medical, dental and prescription coverage.
The terms were announced Tuesday night by Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Margaret Mary Fitzgerald, at the Board of Education meeting at Fairfield Public School offices.
Fitzgerald said there were also some changes in language regarding the grievance procedure and other changes, such as preparation time at the elementary school level.
The teachers' union ratified the contract Monday evening and the Board of Education unanimously approved it Tuesday night. The Representative Town Meeting must still approve the contract.
School board chairman Catherine Albin said, "When I spoke to Ms. Feranec (the teacher's union president) yesterday evening, I expressed my appreciation and great gratitude to her for what this bargaining unit has done ... in recognizing the challenges we are facing economically here in the Fairfield school system and in the Town of Fairfield. I truly, truly want to express our appreciation for their ratifying this contract."
Albin added that she hoped that "the members of the community will also show their appreciation."
Marilyn Feranec, President of the Fairfield Education Association, did not speak during the meeting, but told a Minuteman reporter afterwards that the contract was ratified by "a very close vote."
"This is a huge sacrifice on the part of the teachers," she said, "especially since Westport is getting one percent plus their step."
"So, it was very hard for us to swallow." she said.
"I think it reflects our understanding of the economic difficulty that the town faces ... When we made this decision, we looked at a lot of factors, the wealth of the town, average income - we looked at all that because we wanted to be fair and we hope the town will remember our sacrifice in future contracts." Feranec said the teachers agreed to the sacrifice not only because of the financial climate, "but also we did it for our students, who deserve the best education possible."
Feranec said the town readily agreed to a two, instead of the usual three-year contact. Teachers are hoping that the economy will improve in two years time.
Albin and Fitzgerald both thanked board member Pam Iacono who was the board's representative on the negotiating team.
Iacono, in turn, thanked Fitzgerald and Robert Bellitto, a Board of Finance member, who was an observer and the board's lead attorney, Don Houston. She said, "Everyone was extremely professional and respectful. It takes two sides to reach a deal. I want to thank them (the teachers) very much for coming to the table and for doing so much for our children and our community."
There are 940 members of the teachers union, 895 of whom work full-time. The union includes in its membership guidance counselors, psychologists, and social workers, as well as teachers. Salaries comprise the biggest part of the board of education budget, about 64 percent. Benefits are approximately another 14 percent. The school budget is the largest part of the town budget, at roughly 57 percent.
A joint statement signed by both Albin and Feranec was released on Tuesday night. It said, "The Fairfield Board of Education and the Fairfield Education Association worked closely together to reach an agreement that was fiscally responsible. The contract reflects the current difficult economic conditions facing our town. Agreement was reached through the efforts and commitment of the negotiating teams."
