Together with the North Rockland Teachers and Teaching Assistants and the Superintendent of Schools, the Board proudly announces that on April 14th the teachers and teaching assistants voted overwhelmingly to preserve jobs and keep resources in the classroom. This voted ensured the quality of education will remain high in the North Rockland school district. The North Rockland Teacher’s Association has elected to revise a scheduled contractual pay increase and to split it between two years, in essence reducing it to zero in 2011. They also doubled their medical and drug co-pays and made other concessions on health care. This new agreement will ensure stability in the district and allow the district to continue on a fiscally responsible path.
I want to commend Mrs. Brennan and Mrs. Eckert for their ability to work collaboratively to achieve what is best for students. The fact that everyone, the Board of Education, the Administration and the bargaining groups, came to the table with the priority of “Children First”, speaks volumes about our leadership. I want to thank everyone who attended the meetings that were held in each of the buildings. These meetings allowed Mrs. Eckert and me to explain the situation in our community directly to our employees. I believe that this helped everyone understand the unique circumstances that exist here in North Rockland.

It is with great pride that I announce that the health care changes have also been agreed to by our Administrators Union and we expect that they will be ratified by our CSEA members on Thursday. The savings realized by our bargaining groups will ensure that staff reductions will be minimal.

On behalf of the Board of education I want to thank everyone for their continued support of the North Rockland Central School District.

Deborah Gatti
President, NRCSD Board of Education