02-04-2025
'It stings': Vestal teachers protest for new contract
VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Teachers from the Vestal School District protested outside of yesterday's board of education meeting, as its been over 275 days since their contracts have expired.
Hundreds of protestors held signs and shouted chants like 'fair contract now.' Vestal Teachers Association President Joe Herrinshaw says Vestals' teachers are still working under the terms and conditions of their old, expired contracts.
Herrinshaw says the staff's morale is incredibly low and only worsening.
He says the protestors are demanding more pay but have agreed to switch to a cheaper PPO healthcare plan, which he says would save the district and taxpayers over $700,000. Herrinshaw also took issue with Superintendent Cliff Kasson's recent 4 percent raise.
'We start negotiating in February and we don't reach a successor agreement. We laid off employees from every bargaining unit except for the administrative staff, and then in June, he opened his contract and his administrative team, and his personal secretary. Gave raises and contract enhancements without one single concession. It stings when you hear sustainability,' Herrinshaw said.
Kasson says the district wants a fair contract and for the teachers to receive raises. He says the district has offered a 4.5 percent raise in the first year of the contract and 3.8 percent for the following two years.
Kasson says other issues include the district's desire to have teachers stay one hour late 6 times a year for additional staff development. Kasson wants Herrinshaw to agree to teach more than just 3 classes a day as the union head.
But Kasson says the biggest issue is the union's demand to increase the district's contribution to retiree healthcare plans which he says would more than negate the healthcare savings from switching to the PPO.
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