Teacher Contract Expected Soon
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

The contract dispute between the Garden City Teachers' Association and the Garden City School District has almost come to an end, announced Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen at Tuesday evening's meeting of the Garden City Board of Education.

The GCTA was expected to vote on the terms of a new contract on April 26th. After votes are tallied on May 1st, both sides will be allowed to discuss the contract with the public.

"We believe it is a fair settlement," said Dr. Feirsen. "We believe it is in the interest of the district, as well as the teachers." He said even though discussions were "long and protracted," Dr. Feirsen added that everyone remained professional and work in the schools continued.

In January, Gregory J. Guercio, a partner in the firm of Guercio & Guercio who has served as the district's chief negotiator with the union since contract meetings began in March 2006, announced that since resolution was not achieved through mediation, both sides were going to meet with a fact-finder. This was the next level under the Public Employees Fair Employment Act. However, they were able to reach an agreement before the first fact-finding meeting scheduled for March 22.