Northport District Reaches Agreement with Teacher Aides Association

Teacher Aides MOA Approved

The voted unanimously on Tuesday night to approve a Memorandum Of Agreement with the Teacher Aides Association extending the contract which expired on June 30, 2011 through the 2014-2015 school year. Members agreed to a two percent increase each year as well as an employee health insurance contribution rate of 14 percent.  That rate will increase to 15 percent as of July 1, 2015 but any new employees hired after April 1, 2012 will contribute that amount.

In addition, retiring members during the four year period will receive three days’ pay for every five sick days accumulated. At the end of the term the payment rate will revert to one day for every five days accumulated.

BOCES Budget Approved

The Northport BOE voted unanimously to approve the 2012-2013 Western BOCES administrative budget along with the re-election of Sidney Finkelstein of Elwood and Salvatore Marinello of West Babylon to serve three-year terms on the BOCES Board.

In an ongoing effort to assist local districts in containing costs, the Western Suffolk BOCES froze the overall administrative and capital charges as well as the base tuitions for Wilson Tech and Special Education programs for 2012-2013 thanks in part to recent cooperative negotiations with the custodial, aides, clerical, teachers, and administrators unions.  Three of the units agreed to a salary freeze for 2012-2013 and new employees in all five unions will now pay up to 30 percent towards health insurance. All central office administrators and their respective office staff, as well as the BOCES Chief Operating Officer waived their increases due July 1.

Extra Vacation Day

Since there were no snow days during the school year, schools will be closed on Friday, May 25 for a four-day, Memorial Day weekend.

Retirement

Margaret McHale, a registered nurse at , will be retiring on Sept. 7, 2012 after 26 years of service to the district.

Meet the Candidates Night

The PTA Council will once again hold its yearly night on Tuesday, May 8 at 8 p.m. in the high school library. Northport School Board President Stephen Waldenburg, Jr. and VP Donna McNaughton, who are running for reelection this May, will be joined by local attorney David Badanes and financial planner James Maloney. Kristen Gavin, who filled the remaining one year term left open by former Trustee Tim Madden's move from the district last year, is not running.