Schools, Administrators Reach Three-Year Contract Agreement

The Newtown school district will enter into a new contract with school administrators that includes a 1.5% pay increase in the next year and two higher increases in following years, school district officials announced.

Board of Education members praised the pact with the 17-member Newtown Association of School Administrators, crediting it with saving the district from the dangers of an arbitration process.

"The board recognizes the important leadership that the administrators provide on a daily basis, which is so vital, particularly in light of all the current upcoming changes the district faces," said interim superintendent John Reed. "This agreement, which is viewed as favorable in light of what could have come from arbitration, is a testament to a positive working relationship the parties are engaged in."

Negotiations began July 31 and ended Tuesday night when the Board of Education unanimously approved the three-year contract.

Three of the 17 administrators -- including the interim assistant principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School -- are covered under the $1.3 million SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence) grant awarded to the town in 

The agreement includes a 1.5% pay increase in the 2014-15 school year, a 2% increase in 2015-16 and a 1.75% increase in 2016-17. It makes "significant" increases to the district's health plan, increasing co-payments 20% to 33% per visit. The contract focused entirely on wages and benefits, with no larger-scale changes to language.

"I feel the outcome addressed the needs of both sides and I am happy that we could come to an agreement working collaboratively," said Board of Education chair Debbie Leidlein.