The Waterford Teachers Union has rejected the board of education’s request for a wage freeze, which could lead to 15 to 20 layoffs within the Waterford school district, Superintendent Jerome Belair said.
The union voted to not consider voting on the wage freeze on Monday, Belair said. The move will have a “significant” affect on the district, he said.
“I’m disappointed,” Belair said. “I do know (the union) gave it a great deal of consideration, but I am disappointed.”
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The administrators union agreed to a wage freeze last month, saving the town $35,000. Four other district unions still need to vote on the decision, Belair said.
If the other four refuse the wage freeze, it will cost the town an additional $1.2 million in salary increases overall (including the teacher’s raises).
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The board of education approved a $42.99 million budget in January that assumed all six unions would agree to the wage freeze. This will force the board of education to completely rethink the budget, he said.
The board of education will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, March 15. There, the new proposal will be made, Belair said.
Class sizes will be larger because of the refusal, and fewer programs will be offered, Belair said. More costs could be shifted to parents, such as paying for half of student’s advance placement tests or to participate in school athletics, he said.
The average teacher, including step increases, will receive a 4.3 percent raise, according to board of education documents.
Editor’s Note: Patch is currently working to develop this story further, and will have a more detailed story first thing tomorrow morning.
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