The Saratoga Springs City School District and the Saratoga Springs Teachers Association (SSTA) have reached a five-year contract agreement. The agreement is effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027 and covers approximately 550 teachers.
The SSTA ratified the agreement on January 4 and the Board of Education approved the agreement during the January 11 school board meeting held at Saratoga Springs High School.
“We believe this agreement is a positive outcome,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton. “Our Board of Education and district leadership team values and respects the incredible work that all members of our faculty association do every day to support our students and their families. We appreciate the extensive effort that was invested in the negotiation process and the shared goal of remaining competitive in teacher recruitment and retention. The district appreciates the faculty association’s commitment to prioritizing the needs of our students as well as the long-term financial impact on our local taxpayers “
Key elements in the agreement include:
- Annual salary increases of 4.5% inclusive of step increments.
- Employee health insurance contributions will increase as follows: 2.0% on July 1, 2024, 1.0% on July 1, 2025, and 1.0% on June 30, 2027.
“The Board of Education is thrilled to approve this new contract for the teachers,” said Tony Krackeler, president of the Board of Education. ” It represents the end of a long process undertaken with tireless effort and the best intentions of both the SSTA and the district. The provisions acknowledge the incredible devotion and commitment of the faculty to the students of the district, while also factoring in the fiscal realities of budgetary stress that seem to be prevalent everywhere.”
“Our membership has always been committed to providing the best education it can for the students in our community and it has been a priority of ours to be able to recruit and retain the best teachers as they are the cornerstone of learning,” said Tim McGuiggan, president of the Saratoga Springs Teacher’s Association. “We think this agreement will help the Saratoga Springs City Schools live up to that commitment.”