(Editor's Note: Helen Lafferty is a former president/trustee of the Hicksville Board of Education.)

In answer to my Oct. 8, 2005 letter to the Hicksville Board of Education, I was advised that they had requested Superintendent Maureen Bright respond to my questions pertaining to the new Hicksville Council of Teachers union contract. The following are my questions and the responses provided by Superintendent Bright:

• The length of the contract and the effective date? Mrs. Bright stated that the agreement between the board of education and the Hicksville Congress of Teachers is for the period beginning July 1, 2005 and ending June 30, 2008.

• The total percentage increase and the percentage increase of each year? Mrs. Bright responded that the total percentage increase is 11.5 percent. The increase for each year is as follows: year 1: 3.5 percent; year 2: 4 percent; and year 3: 4 percent.

• What is the total cost of the contract and was money budgeted for the increase? Mrs. Bright responded that the projected cost of the increase in the contractual salaries for year 1 is $2,191,170. Based on the current staffing, the increase for year 2 is $2,128,257 and year 3 is $2,265,097. All salaries for year one were included in the 2005-2006 budget.

• If not budgeted, how will the increases be funded? Mrs. Bright stated that the increase was included in the 2005-2006 budget.

• Were there any concessions to offset the cost, such as hours worked, medical or sick leave benefit changes? Mrs. Bright stated that the percentage of health insurance paid by the employees increased form 10 percent to 15 percent. In addition, a modification was made in the evaluation instrument to include additional language.

Mathematically, according to my calculations, the first year increase of $2,191,179 is 3.5 percent of a base salary figure of $62,604,857. A base salary figure was not given in Mrs. Bright's response. The second and third year percentage increase figures raise questions. A clearer explanation would have been very helpful.

Helen Lafferty