Hen Hud Reaches Tentative Agreement with Teachers Union at the Final Hour; Teaching Positions Could be Restored

Less than 12 hours before the public will go out to vote on the Hendrick Hudson School District 2012-2013 proposed budget, the district has announced that it has reached a tentative settlement agreement with the Hendrick Hudson Educational Association (HHEA), the union that represents the district's 234-person professional staff.

If the agreement is ratified by union members and the Board of Education, six full-time teaching positions that would have been cut for the 2012-2013 school year will be restored, according to a district press release (see below). The district also expects to restore three positions that were previously full-time as part time positions if the agreement is ratified.

The $70 million 2012-2013 budget proposal that Hen Hud district residents will vote on tomorrow planned to cut about 30 positions in order to save $3 million. The district created the budget proposal based on the fact that it had not reached a tentative agreement with the union.

District officials have said that if the HHEA agreed to a zero percent increase for 2012-2013, the district would save about $900,000 and would be able to restore at least six positions. Last month at a school board meeting, members of the public urged the union to accept a zero percent increase in order to save teacher jobs and school programs.

The school district did not release details of the HHEA tentative agreement as of Monday night.

The following is the press release from  that announces the tentative agreement: 

The Hendrick Hudson School District has reached a tentative settlement agreement with the Hendrick Hudson Educational Association, the union representing the district’s 234-person professional teaching staff.

The tentative agreement, if ratified by the membership and the Board of Education, will result in the restoration of six full-time teaching positions. The district also expects to restore three positions which were previously full time as part time positions through savings in operational costs.

“We are relieved that we were able to restore these critical positions, and as a result, will be able to maintain our quality programs,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel McCann.

“We are pleased and appreciative of the HHEA and their leadership for taking the necessary steps to bring this contract to resolution. This resolution is the result of 18 months of talks and some marathon negotiation sessions. The HHEA and the District were able to come together to resolve our differences and ensure that our students are provided with the very best education,” continued McCann.

“The HHEA is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the district. It was a long negotiation process. We thank everyone involved for their dedication to the children, the community, and the educators of the Hendrick Hudson School District,” said Doreen Halsall, Co-President the Hendrick Hudson Teacher’s Union.

According to McCann, “The leadership of the HHEA, Doreen Halsall, Gary Delcioppo and members of the negotiation team, played a critical role in bringing this contract to resolution."

McCann offered special thanks to Ron Longo, attorney for the district, and Tom Casey, NYSUT representative for the HHEA, who helped to balance perspectives in these challenging times.”  

 “On behalf of the Board of Education, and the community, I would like to thank the HHEA for their commitment to restoring valuable positions while recognizing the difficult financial position the district was facing,” he concluded.