Members of the Cobleskill- Richmondville Educational Support Personnel Association, led by Ray Sigtermans, won pay increases between 6 and 8 percent for the 2021–22 school year — with additional increases in the following two years. The contract also increases the district’s contributions to health reimbursement accounts, and the maximum annual rollover allowed for those accounts; provides stipends for teacher aides and teaching assistants providing substitute coverage for classes; and simplified rollover of unused vacation days.
In Duanesburg, the new contract raises starting wages for bus drivers to $20 an hour and includes 4 to 18 percent increases for all currently hired drivers. Salary increases for all other titles were increased between 5 and 8 percent for the 2022–23 school year, and 4 percent for the next two years. The agreement also enhances longevity increases for members and improves benefits for parttime employees. The Duanesburg Educational Support Association is led by Wendy Bell.
In Hudson Falls, a two-year agreement provides a 6.2 to 19 percent hourly increase to all Hudson Falls SRP Association members for the 2022–23 school year and a 3 to 8 percent increase for all members in the 2023–24 school year. The agreement increased starting rates for each title every year of the agreement. The contract also keeps health premium increases low and includes stipends for RNs and LPNs. Joseph Manney leads the Hudson Falls SRP local.
“Across the state, we are seeing historic shortfalls of SRPs,” said NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, whose office oversees SRP issues. “A major reason for this is that SRPs have been underpaid, overworked and underappreciated. These contracts are excellent first steps toward correcting this long injustice.”