Pay raises for teachers in eight Long Island school districts are growing at a slower rate than in the past, but still exceed percentage increases granted to private sector employees.

Meanwhile, teachers in at least 18 Long Island districts are working without a contracts, including those in the Plainview-Old Bethpage district where “parents complained some teacher job actions stepped over the line when they initially refused to decorate classrooms or write college recommendations for students,” according to Newsday (here–link for subscribers only).

“Other local teachers are bowing to economic reality and accepting lower raises than in the past,” newspaper reports.

A Newsday survey of eight districts that have signed new teacher contracts since June finds first-year salary raises ranging from 1 percent to 2.75 percent, plus scheduled annual “steps,” union and district officials say. This is well below the annual 3 percent to 3.5 percent hikes, plus steps, that were typical on the Island until the economic bust of a year ago.

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Among the districts that recently signed new contracts calling for modest increases, Floral Park-Bellerose is the exception, with a pact which provides an initial salary boost of 3.5 percent, plus steps.

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Teacher raises continue to outpace those in the private sector, which averaged 1.2 percent this past year in the metropolitan area.

Originally Published: NY Public Payroll Watch