Plainview Teachers Agree to 4-Year Salary Freeze

The 500 teachers and professional staff at the Plainview-Old Bethpage school district have agreed to a four-year salary freeze.

Dr. Lorna Lewis, superintendent of Plainview's schools, described the agreement as a "sacrifice" on the part of teachers and could help stop projected shortfalls in next year's budget.

She told Patch the salary schedule is exactly the same at the end of the four years. "I think this is a first and worthy of noting," she said.

"Our teachers recognized the sacrifice they had to make in order to preserve the integrity of our instructional program, and this is really a sacrifice," Lewis told Newsday.

Dr. Lewis is taking a pay freeze next year.

The 2011-15 contract includes no contractual raises over the four years. It allows for step increases in the first, second and fourth year, but not the third, Lewis said.

Newsday said the vote was "overwhelmingly in favor of the contract. Union officials couldn't be reached for comment.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced a proposal to cut about $50 million in "high tax" aid, including $38 million on Long Island. See more here at Newsday.