ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The teachers in Rochester City School District have been negotiating contracts for better pay and more support for over a year. But they will finally vote on the new contract Tuesday evening. 

President of the Rochester Teachers Association Adam Urbanski says he is pleased with the resolution.

What You Need To Know

  • Teachers of the Rochester City School District will vote on a new contract on Tuesday that may impact education

  • The new contract would provide teachers a 3.8% pay increase along with a $1,500 additional retention incentive

  • If passed, the new contract would be implemented immediately and teachers will receive back pay through July 1, 2022

“The breakthrough came when Dr. Carmine Peluso was appointed as interim superintendent and he became personally involved in negotiations,” Urbanski said. “We were able to bring the contract to a successful conclusion.”

The contract will give teachers in the school district a raise of 3.5% along with additional retention incentives.

“When you add the 3.8% increase to the $1,500 additional retention incentive, it's the highest settlement in Monroe County and perhaps even in New York state,” Urbanski said.

Along with the increase in pay, it offers an increase in support for students and teachers with counselors, psychologists and social workers in every school.

“And we will be continuing negotiations throughout the next half a year in order to address and resolve some of the other issues,” Urbanski said.

The tentative agreement is waiting to be ratified Tuesday by teachers at their own schools. The contract will then go to the Board of Education for further ratification. If passed, it will take effect immediately.

“If we have more of an incentive for teachers to come to our district, that will hugely benefit our students,” Urbanski said.

It’s something true for school districts across the country as they continue to face a shortage of teachers.

“We will now be able to put all this behind us,” he said. “And we will be able to focus on getting more students to improve to the best possible level that they’re capable of.”