BOE Approves SCTA Memorandum of Agreement

During Wednesday’s Sachem Central School District Board of Education meeting, the school board unanimously approved the Sachem Central Teacher’s Association’s Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

As reported by Sachem Patch on Tuesday, teachers voted, 672-346, passing the motion by 66 percent. By opening the contract, teachers will not receive the originally scheduled 2.5 percent salary increase for the 2012-13 school year. It will save the Sachem Central School District $3.5 million, according to SCTA President John Heslin. To read the full story about the contract adjustments, .

“We will get this done,” said Heslin at Wednesday’s meeting, referring to the budget process. “This community will stand with us, because they know we will stand with them. Sachem will be Sachem for as long as we know it.”

New York State will adopt its official budget April 1, according to Sachem Assistant Superintendent Bruce Singer. On Friday, Singer said the district will know how many teachers accepted a new retirement incentive plan. Sachem could also receive as much as $800,000 from the state in foundation aid when the new state budget is approved.

With the approval of the MOA, the retirement plan, the $6.4 million in expected state aid and other numbers being finalized from the state next week, Sachem will have a more clear picture of how to proceed with the budget by mid-next week, according to Singer.

The school budget vote will be held May 15 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all 12 elementary schools in Sachem. A public hearing for the budget is set for Wednesday, May 2 at Samoset starting at 7:30 p.m.

Next up: The next board of education meeting is a work session scheduled for Wednesday, April 4 at Samoset at 7:30 p.m. A regular board meeting is set for April 18 and the official district budget is expected to be voted on by the board that night.

Presentations: Sachem North drama students performed a scene from their upcoming production of “Hairspray.” (See photos in gallery). According to Sachem drama advisor Jonathan Chiaramonte, Sachem is the first high school in New York to perform the critically acclaimed show. 

Fifth grader leaders from Tecumseh Elementary School also presented a video they prepared sharing leadership values they've learned through the Covey program.