Farmington Schools Contracts Freeze Salaries Through 2015-2016

Farmington Public Schools families will be able to plan vacations three years out, now that school board members and unions have agreed to contracts that run through the 2015-2016 school year. 

Teacher and support staff salaries will remain frozen through all three school years. Unions ratified the contracts before officials approved them at Tuesday's school board meeting, assistant superintendent David Ruhland said. 

Superintendent Susan Zurvalec said having contracts in place allows the district to establish three years' worth of school calendars and to have wage and benefit costs in place for budget planning. 

"These contracts also help us retain our caring, talented and dedicated staff, who make Farmington Public Schools a premier district," she said. "In all, these contracts are a win-win for our staff, students, parents and community."

Teachers, represented by Farmington Education Association (FEA), also agreed to 30 additional hours of Professional Learning Team (PLT)/Professional Learning Committee (PLC) time and 18 hours of additional professional development time outside the classroom. The move reduces the need to hire substitute teachers, Ruhland said.

Farmington Transportation Association (FTA) bus drivers agreed to 20 hours of professional development outside of their work days. They will receive a $250 "off schedule" or one-time payment in one year of the contract, with a second planned if the district's fund balance stays above 12 percent. 

Custodial, Maintenance, Cafeteria (CMC) employees agreed to a 1 percent "off schedule" increase one year, with a second also dependent on the district's fund balance, Ruhland said. Secretaries, paraprofessionals and bookkeepers represented by Educational Support Professionals (ESP) will also receive 1 percent "off schedule" increases, under the same conditions. 

Board member Priscilla Brouillette noted all of the contracts represent "significant sacrifices."