Sto-Rox teachers ratify 1-year contract extension
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The Sto-Rox Education Association ratified a one-year contract extension through June 2023, according to president Carrie Palermo.
The extension came after a pay freeze for the 2021-22 school year for 82 teachers and professional educators in the association. A potential strike was averted with the extension, Palermo said.
“Our members want to work in a partnership with the district and community to ensure that the students of Sto-Rox have a safe school where they can learn, grow and succeed,” Palermo said in a written statement.
The district has been under state supervision after issues with finances over the past few years. A recovery plan through the state department of education outlines ways for the district to invest in academic programs, buildings and other initiatives to help improve educational offerings for students.
That plan details ways to improve professional development for staff and develop a districtwide safety plan as well as restore community trust. Palermo said teachers will be helping to implement some of those initiatives during the upcoming school year, which starts Aug. 24.
The district had an enrollment of about 1,200 students as of October 2021, according to the recovery plan. Enrollment has declined as the number of students attending charter schools has grown.