The East Hampton School Board on Tuesday approved a new five-year agreement with the district’s teachers, granting pay raises, dictating their share of health insurance costs, and clarifying components of prior years’ contracts.
Adam Fine, the district superintendent, said before the unanimous vote that the contract was “in the best interest of this district.” It ensures consistency and continuity for the students as well as for the district’s “incredible teaching staff,” Mr. Fine said. “It was really a fruitful process on every side.”
According to the contract, teachers will receive 1.75-percent salary increases for each of the next five years, beginning on July 1. The contract creates a new top “salary step,” which grants additional pay raises to teachers with the most seniority, whose salaries were previously capped. It also gives the superintendent more flexibility to assign additional steps to teachers who come to East Hampton with experience in other districts.
The contract also gradually increases the teachers’ contributions toward their health care plans, so that they will be paying 19.5 percent of the cost of benefits by the 2026-27 school year.
Teaching assistants will be given stipends of $2,000 per year if they maintain state certifications, and those who have 15 or more years of service to East Hampton will receive additional longevity pay of $1,400. Their health care contributions will be capped at 15 percent.
School nurses will also receive longevity stipends and benefit from new salary steps. Both varsity and junior varsity sports coaches will see their hourly rates increased, as will teachers who lead after-school clubs.
J.P. Foster, the school board president, said that “as a board and a group, we all can work together, and we do. It’s appreciated.”