Niles board approves new teachers contract

The citizens committee recommended a bond issue for three new buildings.

BY JORDAN COHEN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NILES — The board of education approved a new three-year contract Thursday with the Niles Classroom Teachers Association, which contains pay raises for the teachers and revised medical coverage with six-figure savings for the district

“We will save $250,000 this year because of the changing medical plans, and that was crucial for our acceptance,” said Superintendent Rocco Adduci.

The district’s 187 teachers “overwhelmingly approved” the agreement earlier this week, according to Mary Ann McMahon, NCTA president.

Teachers will receive pay increases of 1.5 percent at the start of the new school year in August, 2 percent in 2009 and 2.75 percent in 2010.

Adduci said the medical savings were achieved by removing coverage for morbid obesity and changing to a three-tier prescription drug program.

McMahon agreed that the obesity coverage was costly for the district.

“The cost for that was huge for the board, but we know their economic situation,” McMahon said.

The new contract also contains a provision that was high on the NCTA’s priority list.

“We’re happy with the retirement incentive, which all of us wanted in this contract,” McMahon said.

The incentive amounts to $9,000 for every teacher who plans to retire each of the three contract years.

In another item, the citizens committee reviewing the plans to build a new high school and two new elementary schools has recommended a bond issue of 5.3 mills to finance construction. The board had been awaiting the millage recommendation.

“This is a $62 million economic engine for Niles,” said Robert McAuliffe, Jr., building consultant. “It’s an investment that will stay with Niles for years to come.”

The state will cover 71 percent of the cost, $44 million, while the Niles bond issue would cover the balance of $18.5 million.

The new elementary schools, for kindergarten through fifth grade, would replace four older elementary schools that will be demolished with no changes planned for the middle school, which was completed in 2003. The current McKinley High School would also be demolished with students taking classes in temporary sites during construction of the new facility.