[Update] Town Council Approves New Three-Year Avon Schools Certified Staff Contract

Update, Nov. 2, 2:17 a.m.

The Town Council approved the new three-year Avon Public Schools certified staff contract by a 3-1 vote.

Councilman Chris May (R) was the only to vote against it.

Town Council Chairman Mark Zacchio recused himself from the discussion because his wife's a teacher.

Original Story

The Town Council will discuss the three-year collective bargaining agreement between the Avon Board of Education and the Avon Education Association at its meeting Thursday night.

By law, if the council does not act on it within 30 days after an agreement is reached, it's binding, according to Town Council Chairman Mark Zacchio. The new contract is for Avon Public Schools teachers, guidance counselors, school psychologists and speech pathologists and other certified staff.

That gives the council three options – to accept it, to reject it or not to vote on it at all.

Zacchio said he will recuse himself from the discussion because his wife is a teacher.

The labor agreement was reached in the mediation stage, according to a joint press release from the board and union in October. An attorney with experience in contract mediations was hired to work with both parties.

If the board and union hadn't agreed on a contract by October, the process would have advanced to the binding arbitration level, which would have left the decision up to a neutral arbiter hired by the state.

Certified staff, including staff with athletic and co-curricular job titles, will receive two-percent raises each year for the duration of the three-year contract, according to the press relase. Mentors teachers who receive small increases in stipends each year.

"Other details of the mediated agreement include increases in the employee cost share for health benefits from 18 to 20 percent, increases in prescription medication co-pays for preferred brands from $20 to $25 and non-preferred brands from $35 to $45, increases in hospital admission co-pays from $200 to $250 and office visits for $20 to $25," the press release stated.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Selectmen's Conference Room in Town Hall Building One at 60 West Main St.