BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — Teachers within the Massena Central School District finally have a new contract following the conclusion of negotiations between the district and Massena Federation of Teachers.

“We are pleased to reach an agreement with the Massena Federation of Teachers for a new, three year contract. I believe it is a fair deal and recognizes the hard work of our staff especially over these last three challenging years. Negotiation is a process and some contracts take more time than others. I want to thank MFT President Randy Freiman and the negotiating committees on both sides for their hard work in reaching this agreement. We are glad to get this process completed and have all of our instructional staff under this new contract,” Superintendent Pat Brady said.

The new, three-year contract will bring a total pay increase of 13%, with 4.75% in the first year, retroactive to July 1.

In year two, a 4.25% pay increase will come into play, with a 4% increase in year three.

Teachers involved in extracurriculars will also receive a 3% increase for those roles, along with sports stipends.

With the new contract in place, new extracurricular positions were also added for the junior high Green Team, French National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, junior high yearbook, videographer and indoor track assistant coach.

Newly-hired teachers will also receive a one-time, $1,500 signing bonus, according to the contract.

“After just under a year of the negotiations process, the Massena Federation of Teachers and the district came to a realistic contract agreement which is fair to all MFT members. It is a 3 year deal, including this year, that has an overall 13% increase in salary with no change to health insurance,” Union Representative Randal Freiman said.

Term for the contract will be July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025.

Union members approved the contract on Jan. 6 with the Board of Education signing off on the deal during a special meeting on Jan. 9.

Though a mediator was called in to help with negotiations, both parties say they feel it was a fair and “agreeable settlement.”