LTA, district have not talked in 8 months

In the more than four years since the most recent contract between the Lawrence Teachers Association and the school district expired, the two sides have had a half dozen discussions and two mediation hearings. According to the LTA, “everything is still on the table,” but the district has not altered its original proposal, so nothing has been settled.
In 2000, the LTA and the district signed an agreement that took 10 months to negotiate, and was in effect until June 30, 2003. In April 2001, they agreed to a contract extension to June 30, 2005. The last agreement, which expired on June 30, 2011, was completed in June 2006.
“The most recent mediation session was on February 26,” said LTA President Lori Skonberg. “We had one scheduled for May, but it was canceled by the Board of Education. The LTA has requested a reasonable salary increase, additional library staff, and use of personal leave and for programs to continue running.”
Contract negotiations are conducted by Skonberg, who serves as the chief negotiator, a labor relations specialist and seven other LTA members. Representing the district are Lawrence Superintendent Gary Schall, attorney Christopher Kirby and three school board trustees.
“The Board of Education wants concessions, some of which we may agree to in some form, but cannot without a wage offer,” Skonberg said. “We have many members who haven’t even had a cost-of-living increase in five years.” Nearly 40 percent of LTA have their salaries frozen for two years, according to the terms in the contract. Skonberg wouldn’t reveal the size of the salary increases the LTA is seeking. The expired deal called for raises ranging from 2.25 to 2.75 percent. The current median teacher salary in Lawrence is $114,396, based on information found on seethroughny.org. In the neighboring Lynbrook and East Rockaway districts, the median salaries are $103,453 and $113,473, respectively.

School district officials were asked several questions about contract negotiations, but declined to answer. “The district does not comment on confidential labor-management matters,” Schall said, “but we are involved in robust negotiations for each of our bargaining units.” The other units include head custodians, all civil service except clerical staff, psychologists and guidance counselors, and administrators.
According to the LTA, district officials have canceled negotiations a number of times over the past five years. “The district does not usually give a reason when they cancel a meeting, nor do they have to,” Skonberg said.
There are 278 LTA members this school year, compared with an estimated 350 in 2011, due to layoffs over the years, retirements and modifications to educational programs such as Universal Pre-K, in which veteran teachers were let go and replaced by recent college graduates beginning in the 2013-14 school year. Due to the new statewide emphasis on bilingual education, the district hired 12 teachers this year. The LTA also includes social workers, and their ranks have also been reduced.
Mediation talks are conducted by the Public Employees Relations Board, a state agency created to administer the Taylor Law, a labor relations statute covering all public employees in New York state.
The State Education Department oversees pre-K to 12th-grade education, but not labor contracts. “Contract negotiations are strictly a local matter, between the district and its various bargaining units,” said SED spokesman Jonathan Burman.