The Farmingdale Union Free School District Board of Education approved a new contract with the Farmingdale Federation of Teachers (FFT) at the March 1 Board of Education meeting. The new contract covers the school years 2005/06 through 2008/09.

The agreement was finalized after almost a year-and-a-half of negotiations. Both the school district and FFT representatives noted that the main priority was to negotiate a fair contract that minimizes the tax burden on residents. The new contract provides teachers with a 2 percent base salary raise in 2005/2006, 2.5 percent in 2006/07, 3 percent in 2007/08 and 3.5 percent in 2008/09. These increases are all below the current United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index of approximately 4 percent. The new settlement also represents the most conservative contract when compared to other teacher agreements recently negotiated in school districts across Long Island.

In announcing the settlement, Board President Charles Russo commented, "This agreement supports our efforts to ensure a quality education and retain our excellent teaching staff while exercising prudent control over those factors that directly impact our annual budgets. At the same time, we will continue to work with Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi's committee; R.E.F.I.T. (a consortium of low wealth-high tax districts); the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association; and our local, state and federal elected officials to revamp the current funding structure of public education, which puts an onerous hardship on our residents."

For more information, call the Office of the Superintendent, 515-752-6510.