After a year-and-a-half of negotiating, the Farmingdale School teachers four year contract was approved by both sides. The new agreement gives educators a 11 percent salary increase overall, which covers the 2005/2006 through the 2008/2009 school years.

Both the school district and the teachers union noted that the main priority was to negotiate a fair contract that minimizes the tax burden on residents while giving educators a raise.

According to the district, the 11 percent raise, spread over four years, is below the current United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index of approximately four percent. A 2 percent salary increase will be given in 2005/2006, 2.5 percent in 2006/2007, 3 percent in 2007/2008 and 3.5 percent in 2008/2009.

For teachers fresh from college with a bachelor's degree the starting salary was $42,059; under the new contract it will be $42,900. Teachers with 22 years of experience and a master's degree, the starting salary will rise from $93,760 to $95,635 with the new contract.

Health benefits do not change under the new contract, according to Dr. Roberta Gerold, school superintendent.

"Our teachers have historically paid the highest percentage in the State of New York at 20 percent. While most districts struggle with 10 to 15 percent, our teachers didn't ask for a raise because they are satisfied," she said.

"We're not happy we pay that much (for health care) but we didn't pursue it because the community has financial concerns," said Farmingdale Teacher's Union President Claire Zatorski, who said her teachers and staff were satisfied with the contract.

According to a press release from the District, the new settlement also represents the most conservative contract they could have accepted when compared to other teacher agreements recently negotiated in districts across Long Island.

"This agreement supports our efforts to ensure a quality education and retain our excellent teaching staff while exercising prudent control over those factors that directly impact our annual budgets,"said Charles Russo, Farmingdale School Board President.

"At the same time, we will continue to work with Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi's committee, the R.E.F.I.T. organization (a consortium of low wealth-high tax districts), the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association and our local, state and federal elected officials to revamp the current funding structure of public education which puts onerous hardship on our residents," he said.