Nearly 60 Bay Shore Teachers Laid Off

BAY SHORE, NY — The Bay Shore School District and the Bay Shore Classroom Teachers' Association remain in contract negotiations after dozens of teachers were laid off last week.

"Please know that we do not take this responsibility lightly, and that we will do everything in our power to ensure an enriching and successful 2020-2021 school year for your child," a statement from school district officials read. "We are aware that there is some misinformation being shared on social media regarding this difficult decision and the circumstances surrounding it."

In a letter to the community posted on Facebook, the Bay Shore Classroom Teachers’ Association stated that they have been working with the district to address the economic uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last month, a budget vote approved a $162,967,087 spending plan for 2020-21 school year, which a 2.24 percent increase from the 2019-20 budget. District officials say they proposed an agreement that deferred teacher salary increases due to the reductions in state aid, which was recently cut by Gov. Andrew Cuomo as a result of the current pandemic.

"State aid cuts of 5 percent or less would enable the District to meet 100 percent of its contractual obligations and no salary increases would be deferred. An agreement also would have negated the need for layoffs," the statement read. "While the respective negotiating teams reached an agreement, it is our understanding that the bylaws of the Bay Shore Classroom Teachers’ Association require an affirmative vote of the Governing Board prior to a vote by the membership at large."

After the Governing Board rejected the district’s proposal, the district made the layoffs to keep with potential state aid cuts of 20 percent or more, in order to allow the district to fulfill its "fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of Bay Shore and Brightwaters, and prepare for the worst-case scenario."

In the letter, the Bay Shore Classroom Teachers’ Association stated that final proposal and cuts meant that an "extensive percentage" of local teachers would not have employment. Combined with the 21 teachers set to retire, a total of 80 educators would not return for the 2020-21 school year.

"This prospect is unacceptable, as our students need their teachers, counselors, social workers and other support staff now more than ever," the letter read. "The COVID-19 pandemic has placed tremendous stress on us all. Bay Shore teachers responded by distributing 1,500 Care kits containing books, toys, crafts and small gifts to occupy students."

While the district statement did not specify how many teachers were let go, a petition on Change.org created by Jess Puleo also stated that over 60 educators including: advanced placement teachers, academics such as science, math and English teachers, music teachers who teach and run extracurricular activities such as jazz band, pit orchestra and chamber orchestra, sports coaches and social workers.

"There are many more, but these teachers have been there for students and have done amazing things in Bay Shore," Puleo wrote in the online petition. "There is a huge chance that these people may never return. The board says that some may return when school and scheduling begin, but this is not guaranteed and is highly unlikely to happen."

On Monday, both the Bay Shore School District and Bay Shore Classroom Teachers’ Association met to continue to discuss contract negotiations.

"Both parties agreed to continue the process and are hopeful that a resolution that will benefit all parties will be reached in the near future," a post by the Bay Shore Classroom Teachers’ Association read.

In an update last week, the district posted details of the negotiations including the demands of the Bay Shore Classroom Teachers' Association:

• The District agreed that there would be no BSCTA positions excessed for the 2020-21 school year.
• The District agreed that no deal would occur unless and until there was written confirmation that all administrators and non-represented administrators made similar monetary concessions.
• The District agreed that if NYS did not cut the projected state aid to Bay Shore by more than 5 percent, then every teacher would receive their full salary increase.
• The District agreed that, regardless of pending mid-year state aid cuts, every teacher would receive their step and lane movements on the salary schedule in both 2020-21 and 2021-22, although monetary increases in 2020-21 would need to be deferred if pending mid-year state aid cuts exceed 20 percent.
• The District agreed that the burden of mid-year state aid cuts of 5% to 20% would be shared with salary increases being prorated based upon a negotiated schedule.
• The District agreed that any teachers retiring in 2020-21 would receive their full salary increase regardless of mid-year state aid cuts.
• The District agreed that any BSCTA member with 30 Years of Service, but who had not yet reached Step 30, would skip Step 29 and be placed on Step 30 in 2020-21 or in 2021-22, during their respective fiscal year of retirement.
• The District agreed that unit members’ health insurance premium contributions would remain at 16% until the 2020-21 salary deferment was finalized, no later than June 30, 2021. If the state aid reduction was greater than 5 percent, the BSCTA members’ medical insurance contribution would remain at 16 percent. If the state aid reduction was less than 5% and the teachers received their full salary increases, the contribution would increase to 17% as per the current contract, and be deducted from the settlement payment.
• The District agreed to a one year extension of the 2020-21 contract through 2021-22 with an increase in the health insurance premium contribution to 18 percent.
• The District agreed that after-school professional development would be suspended, with professional development being conducted during faculty/department meetings and/or during the school day for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years.

In turn, the District requested the following:

• A deferment of salary increases proportional to any realized state aid cuts.
• That unit members would continue to perform contractual duties and could be asked to provide other teaching services (i.e., cafeteria/hall duty, study halls, substitute/break/lunch/prep coverage, teaching services “on a cart,” etc.) in accordance with the existing contract when requested to provide the District with flexibility in scheduling, and without threat of grievance.