Contract Negotiation Goals Units 1,4, 8, 10 2002


 Focusing on what matters most: Improving Student Achievement


We, the members of the Syracuse Teachers Association recognize our responsibility to our students, their families and our city. We enter these negotiations seeking timely and fair settlements that engage both parties in problem solving and collaboration. We intend to focus on developing joint strategies to ensure safe schools for all students and staff, to provide and maintain professional excellence in all teaching and support positions and to promote high standards and high achievement for our students.STA invites the Syracuse City School Board to consider its proposals as an investment  in our children's futures and an investment  in quality teaching and instructional support

Ensure Safe Schools for All Students Safe and orderly schools are a priority for teachers, support staff, students, and the public. Students and staff require save learning and working environments to maximize student learning.
  • Implement uniform, consistent and appropriate enforcement of the SCSD Code of Conduct.
  • Maintain class size reduction at the primary level and expand this effort to all grade levels including secondary schools.
  • Provide adequate support for inclusion classes.
  • Guarantee adequate staffing in all buildings.
  • Provide quality alternative programs and interventions for chronically disruptive children.

Attract and Retain Quality Teachers and Support Staff Never before has the SCSD been forced to place so many uncertified staff in our classrooms.  Neighboring districts are "cherry picking" our new and veteran teachers. Our children deserve a qualified teacher in every classroom. New federal regulations contain higher qualifications for all teaching assistants.  Nurses are in great demand.  Competitive and Professional Compensation Teachers in Syracuse have the lowest median salary of any district in Onondaga County. Unit 4 Teachers are paid below Unit 1 teachers. Nurses in other districts are compensated at higher levels as are Teaching Assistants.
  • Develop a competitive compensation package to attract and maintain quality professionals in every position.
  • Increase longevity incentives for our most committed and experienced members.
  • Reward acquisition of professional knowledge, skills, degrees and National Board Certification.
  • Increase stipends and efforts to attract qualified substitute teachers.
  • Focus resources on school-based personnel needs. Recruitment and Induction
  • Provide mentoring for all new teachers (and assistance for veteran teachers)
  • Provide on-going support for all new staff during their first year of employment.
  • Expand the Career Ladders and advanced degree opportunities.
  • Give preferential hiring opportunities to Teaching Assistant Substitutes and Career Ladder graduates.

Professional Development- Subject Matter Knowledge and Skills Sustained and high quality professional development will advance subject matter knowledge and skills, increasing teacher effectiveness in raising student achievement.

  • Collaborate to provide research based professional development opportunities for all staff.
  • Engage in joint labor/management leadership training.


 Promote High Standards and High Achievement

  • High standards for student academic achievement are the keys to success for public schools. 
  • The school climate must be conducive to teaching and learning.
  • District-wide and site-based comprehensive planning must be inclusive to ensure success.

Professional recognition and collaboration

  • Recognize teachers as instructional leaders.
  • Engage in meaningful site based decision-making with all staff and parents.
  • Develop jointly a comprehensive plan for district-wide testing.
  • Develop jointly a  plan for the dissemination of data to teachers, students and parents.
  • Develop jointly new instrument to assess school climate.


  • Resources for students and staff
  • Provide daily planning time for all elementary teachers.
  • Provide adequate resources for Academic Intervention Services for all identified students. 
  • Provide a student centered professional workplace.
  • Guarantee equitable distribution of and access to resources among schools.
  • Honor current agreements regarding class size.
  • Stabilize teaching assignments from year-to-year.
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