Oct. 4, 2011
Kevin Harren, director of labor relations for Capital Region BOCES, addressed the BKW Board of Education at its Sept. 26 meeting regarding the mediated contract negotiations currently underway between the BKW Board of Education and the BKW Teachers Association.
As part of his presentation, Harren summarized the history of the negotiations and included a review of the September 2010 "Summary of Proposed Changes" and the mediator’s suggested resolution.
Harren also briefly reviewed Capital Region BOCES Labor Relations Data Analyst Drew Cullen's PowerPoint presentation, wherein he detailed the rising costs of salary and benefits to the district and the impact reduced state and federal funding and the tax levy limit imposes on the district.
The 2002-2007 contract is available online. The document includes the original contract covering the period of 2002 through June 30, 2007 and the individual year extensions for the periods ending June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009. As required by New York state's Triborough Amendment, the parties have been abiding by the terms of their prior agreement.
For more information on the Taylor Law, please click here. Triborough Amendment information can be found in section 209-a of that document.
November 28, 2011 Update to Website information:
Subsequent to the public presentation referenced above, the BKWTA asked that the numbers in the presentation be reviewed and verified as they felt an error had been made.
The BOCES Labor Service carefully reviewed the data and concluded that the presentation erroneously listed the estimated average base salary of a BKW teacher as $68,149; or $10,765 greater than the correct average salary of $57,384.
The BOCES Labor Service has advised the Board of this error and that it regrets its mistake. BOCES has provided the Board with a corrected version of the slideshow which is now posted on the website in place of the original slideshow. The Board has also been informed that the revised numbers in no way deter from the fundamental conclusion to be drawn from the presentation - that the anticipated growth of the cost of the teaching staff will, by itself, exceed the District’s ability to increase its revenues under the new property tax cap by an estimated $169,000.
Should you have any questions about the presentation please contact Dr. Paul Dorward, BKWCSD Superintendent, at the District Office.
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