Bellmore approves teachers' contract

The Bellmore Board of Education approved a new four-year teachers’ contract in an unopposed vote at a Jan. 19 meeting. The contract will run through June 30, 2013, and includes salary increases of 2.2 percent over the first two years and 2.25 percent over the last two.

Teachers will also be required to pay a larger share of their health insurance, starting with 16 percent this year. Their contribution will rise to 17 percent and 18 percent for the final two years of the agreement.

Gloria Panella, the Bellmore Faculty Association president, said, "We would like to thank the board and counsel and administration for their help in achieving the contract settlement. We're very happy that it's settled, we're happy to have a four-year contract, and we will continue to work as hard as we ever have."

Board Vice President Jay Breakstone and President Janet Goller thanked the administration, union representatives, and trustees Marion Blane and Steven Traum for their hard work on the agreement.

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