The Margate City Board of Education maintains its office on the third floor of the William H. Ross Elementary School.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – The Board of Education Wednesday, Dec. 8 approved a memorandum of agreement with the Margate Education Association that provides the language for a three-year contract expiring June 30, 2023.
The marked up document provided to Downbeach.com shows changes to various articles covering employees’ rights and responsibilities, grievance procedures, hours and workload, use of educational assistants and salaries and benefits.
The teachers ratified the contract on Monday, Dec. 6 and the board approved it on Wednesday.
Board President Kathy Horn said the district’s Negotiations Committee worked diligently to develop the contract with the union.
“The Negotiations Committee put in long hours and had a lot of patience,” she said.
Horn said it is one of the most challenging committees for board members to serve on.
“You did a great job, and we appreciate all of the time you put in,” she said.
The previous contract expired in June 2020. Union President Sherry Scott said the COVID-19 pandemic delayed negotiations.
“Negotiating on Zoom calls took longer than meeting in person,” Scott said. “We worked out the salary increases relatively quickly, but the language changes took longer. We had a meeting set for a week in March when all the schools shut down and didn’t meet again until 7-8 months later.”
The agreed upon increases to the salary line item of the school budget are 3.4%, 3.1% and 3.25% based on the salary guide.
The guides, one for each year of the contract, outline salaries retroactively to 2020. The 2020-2021 salary guide shows a starting teacher will earn $65,500 in Step 1, while a teacher at Step 15, the highest step on the guide, will earn up to $102,100. For 2021-2022, the salary range is $65,500 to $104,100, and in 2022-2023, $65,500 to $106,100. Educational assistants will earn between $20,400 and $29,500.
Highlight from the contract indicate teachers are required to work 7 hours a day, except for Wednesdays when they will work 7.5 hours, even when children are dismissed early, and will get five 35-minute prep time periods a week. Anyone who performs academic work beyond the normal school day will earn a rate of $49.13 per hour in the first year of the contract, $51 in the second, and $53 in the third. They get five paid sick days but can be granted five more if there are extenuating circumstances, and three to five bereavement days depending on their relationship with the decedent.
For employees hired after May 21, 2010, retirement pay will be limited to up to 200 days of sick time, at a rate of $125 per day, but payouts will be capped at $15,000. Educational assistants will be reimbursed at a rate of $50 per day with a maximum payout of $15,000.
Educational expenses for up to two courses per semester will be reimbursed up to 75% of the cost of tuition charged at Stockton University.
“We think the contract is fair and we are looking forward to another productive year with our students,” Scott said.
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