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July 27, 2020

We are currently planning for a return to learning in September. To assist us in the planning process, we are asking families to complete a survey about whether you will send your child back to in-person learning. One survey should be completed for each child. Responses must be received by 12 noon on Thursday, July 30th. 

July 22, 2020

The ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Board of Education has reached an agreement with the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Classroom Teachers’ Association (BSCTA) for a salary increase deferment. Under this agreement, no teachers will be excessed. We thank the BSCTA for working with us to reach a mutually beneficial agreement during these unprecedented times.
 

July 15, 2020

In recent social media platforms, inaccurate information has been posted concerning the June Board Trustee and Budget Election results. The election  process was conducted in a manner that was legally required as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  The District followed the explicit legal guidelines provided by legal counsel and the State Education Department for the counting of absentee ballots. A challenge to the election results was  nevertheless lodged with the Commissioner of Education by 2 community members. In the petition it was requested that the Commissioner stay the results pending a final decision on the appeal. The “Stay Request” was denied in all respects by the Commissioner of Education, which sent a clear indication that the results were proper and that the election counting process was done correctly. The recent social media posts that repeat the same blatantly inaccurate assertions that have already been preliminarily rejected by the Commissioner of Education are inappropriate and divisive to the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø community at large.

July 13, 2020
 

The ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Board of Education reached an agreement with the Superintendent, Central Office administrators and the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Administrators Association for a salary increase deferment. We thank them for their cooperation and understanding during these unprecedented times.

Conversations with our other bargaining units are ongoing and it would be improper to comment on specific details at this time. Please stay tuned to our website and social media channels for further information as it becomes available. 
 

July 9, 2020

District Mourns the Passing of Lillian Barbash
Long Island’s First Lady of the Arts

The ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø School District is sad to share the news of the passing of Lillian Barbash, Mrs. Barbash and her late husband Maurice co-founded the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Arts Education funds which continues to enrich the lives of ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø students of all ages.  

In 1995, the Barbashes spent $18,000 to organize a trip for 700 juniors and seniors at ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø High School to see a Broadway performance of “Having Our Say.” The response from the students was so overwhelming that the couple established the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Arts Education Fund, which in 2016 paid for 500 students to see "Hamilton" on Broadway.  Barbash, also became known for booking promising young musicians and bringing artist masters classes into the schools.

Mrs. Barbash also brought the New York Philharmonic to Heckscher State Park, attracting crowds exceeding 20,000.  The concerts, with their fireworks finales, became a summer tradition for Suffolk audiences and Philharmonic musicians. 

“We offer our heartfelt condolences to the Barbash family; Ms. Barbash’s legacy will live on in the hearts of our ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø students and the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø/ Brightwaters community for many years to come.”  Superintendent Joseph Bond.

Donations can be made in her name to the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Arts Education Fund at .

July 8, 2020

Dear ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Brightwaters Community,

As promised, I am writing to share further information about graduation for ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø High School. After reviewing current state guidelines and giving careful consideration to what is best for the health and safety of our community, it became clear that it will be necessary for us to host more than one graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020.

We will host a total of eight (8) ceremonies to recognize our graduating seniors. They will be held as follows:

Thursday, July 30, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. (A-Bro)  and 6:30 p.m. (Bru-C)

Friday, July 31, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. (D-F)  and 6:30 p.m. (G-Kh)

Saturday, August 1, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. (Ki-Mia), 11:30 a.m. (Mih-P), 4:00 p.m. (Q-Sob) and 6:30 p.m. (Sol-Z)

Your child’s assigned time is their assigned time. Special requests to change to another ceremony will not be accommodated.

If it becomes possible, we will condense the eight (8) into four (4) ceremonies. Everyone will still attend a ceremony on the day that they are currently assigned. For example, if your child is currently scheduled for the Thursday 4 p.m. ceremony and we hold only one ceremony on Thursday, your child would still attend the Thursday ceremony.

At each of these ceremonies, strict social distancing protocols will be in place. Each student will be allowed to bring two guests. Seating for graduates and guests will adhere to social distancing guidelines. Masks must be worn by those in attendance, both graduates and guests. 

Further information about the procedures that will be followed will be shared by the Principal’s Office in the coming weeks. 

I look forward to the opportunity to celebrate our Class of 2020!

Yours truly,

Joseph Bond

July 6, 2020

Dear ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Brightwaters Community,

The ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø School District and the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Classroom Teachers’ Association met today to discuss contract negotiations. Both parties agreed to continue the process and are confident a resolution that will benefit all parties will be reached in the near future.

Joseph C. Bond Mike Krieger

Superintendent BSCTA President

July 5, 2020

A statement from the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø School District regarding negotiations with the BSCTA:

Representatives of the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Classroom Teachers’ Association (BSCTA) and the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Union Free School District (District) had been engaging in ongoing conversations regarding the possible need for action in light of Governor Cuomo’s projected mid-year state aid cuts of anywhere from 20%-50% of our 2020-21 state aid package of more than $50 million (potentially $10 million in mid-year cuts). 

Formal negotiations commenced when the BSCTA notified the District of a request for financial information pursuant to the Taylor Law on Thursday, June 18th, just after 6PM. They were discontinued on July 1st at 4PM when the District was informed, just prior to the Reorganization Meeting, that the Governing Board of the BSCTA had rejected the proposal presented to them by their negotiating committee.

It should be noted that while formal negotiations are underway, it is improper for either party to discuss any details with the public. The District is not at liberty to invent or spin information in its favor. We can only present the facts and the facts are as follows:

Over the course of those 13 days, the District had agreed to the following BSCTA demands:
 

• The District agreed that there would be no BSCTA positions excessed for the 2020-21 school year.  
   

• The District agreed that no deal would occur unless and until there was written confirmation that all administrators and non-represented administrators made similar monetary concessions.
   

• The District agreed that if NYS did not cut the projected state aid to ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø by more than 5%, then every teacher would receive their full salary increase.
   

• The District agreed that, regardless of pending mid-year state aid cuts, every teacher would receive their step and lane movements on the salary schedule in both 2020-21 and 2021-22, although monetary increases in 2020-21 would need to be deferred if pending mid-year state aid cuts exceed 20%. 
   

• The District agreed that the burden of mid-year state aid cuts of 5% to 20% would be shared with salary increases being prorated based upon a negotiated schedule.
   

• The District agreed that any teachers retiring in 2020-21 would receive their full salary increase regardless of mid-year state aid cuts.
   

• The District agreed that any BSCTA member with 30 Years of Service, but who had not yet reached Step 30, would skip Step 29 and be placed on Step 30 in 2020-21 or in 2021-22, during their respective fiscal year of retirement.
   

• The District agreed that unit members’ health insurance premium contributions would remain at 16% until the 2020-21 salary deferment was finalized, no later than June 30, 2021. If the state aid reduction was greater than 5%, the BSCTA members’ medical insurance contribution would remain at 16%. If the state aid reduction was less than 5% and the teachers received their full salary increases, the contribution would increase to 17% as per the current contract, and be deducted from the settlement payment.
   

• The District agreed to a one year extension of the 2020-21 contract through 2021-22 with an increase in the health insurance premium contribution to 18%.
   

• The District agreed that after-school professional development would be suspended, with professional development being conducted during faculty/department meetings and/or during the school day for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years.
   

In turn, the District requested the following:
 

• A deferment of salary increases proportional to any realized state aid cuts.
   

• That unit members would continue to perform contractual duties and could be asked to provide other teaching services (i.e., cafeteria/hall duty, study halls, substitute/break/lunch/prep coverage, teaching services “on a cart,” etc.) in accordance with the existing contract when requested to provide the District with flexibility in scheduling, and without threat of grievance.
   

Please continue reading for further clarification of some additional claims/questions worthy of explanation:

BSCTA Claim: “With one year remaining in its contract, the BSCTA was asked by the District to consider taking a ‘hard freeze’ for the 2020-21 school year.”
Fact: The District never asked for a “hard freeze.” We asked for a conditional deferment of salary increases. Unit members would still receive their step/lane movement, albeit with the possibility that the monetary benefit might be deferred during the 2020-21 school year.

BSCTA Claim: “The BSCTA, making every effort to continue negotiations, extended the contractual deadline for notification of excessed teachers by two weeks.”
Fact: The BSCTA gave the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø School District 10 business days, “or until the parties stop the negotiations, whichever comes first.” When the Governing Board rejected the proposal, negotiations were concluded and the District was forced to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility and send the letters excessing positions to protect the taxpayers.

Question: Are only the teachers being asked to make sacrifices for the financial health of the District?
Answer: Conversations have been held with all of the District’s bargaining units asking for similar concessions, with the proposed agreement specifically contingent upon written confirmation that all administrators and non-represented administrators made similar monetary concessions. 

Question: Why were so many teachers excessed?
Answer: With so many questions still left unanswered about the return of students into District facilities this fall, the positions in question were chosen to provide the District with the maximum amount of flexibility as we redesign what public education will look like in light of the ongoing global pandemic.

Question: How did the District decide which positions to excess?
Answer: Generally speaking, non-mandated positions are the first to be chosen (i.e., art and music). In the event that education continues to be virtual, or even partially virtual, it is entirely possible that we could forgo certain positions to alleviate the impact of the proposed mid-year state aid cuts while keeping an eye on the promise of those services being restored when students return to our buildings full-time and are permitted to gather together to rehearse (absent the need for social distancing protocols). In this instance, monies conserved in the First Semester could significantly help alleviate the strain on finances in the Second Semester and allow us to get our entire staff back to work as quickly as possible based upon our needs. This is one simple example of the type of flexibility in scheduling that the District is trying to accomplish.

Faced with an uncertain future and the possibility of significant mid-years cuts to one of our primary revenue streams, the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø School District had no choice but to prepare for the worst-case scenario. As explained above, contract language dictates when excess letters must be sent to staff members. When negotiations concluded, the letters had to be sent. As more information becomes available from Governor Cuomo on exactly what the Fall Semester will look like, we will be in a better position to finalize our staffing needs. We remain hopeful that the Governing Board of the BSCTA will overturn their decision and allow the teachers of ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø the opportunity to have their voices heard through a vote of their membership.
 

July 2, 2020

This morning, the Board of Education was put in the unfortunate position of having to excess valued members of our teaching staff. Please know that we do not take this responsibility lightly, and that we will do everything in our power to ensure an enriching and successful 2020-2021 school year for your child. We are aware that there is some misinformation being shared on social media regarding this difficult decision and the circumstances surrounding it. The Board of Education did everything in its power to negotiate a good faith agreement that would allow the district to maintain fiscal solvency and provide maximum flexibility in addressing the scheduling challenges that lie ahead. We proposed an agreement that deferred teacher salary increases on a scale proportionate to the realized reductions in state aid currently being forewarned by the Governor. State aid cuts of 5% or less would enable the District to meet 100% of its contractual obligations and no salary increases would be deferred. An agreement also would have negated the need for layoffs. While the respective negotiating teams reached an agreement, it is our understanding that the bylaws of the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Classroom Teachers’ Association require an affirmative vote of the Governing Board prior to a vote by the membership at large. The Governing Board has rejected the District’s proposal. Faced with potential state aid cuts of 20% or more, the Board of Education must fulfill its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø and Brightwaters, and prepare for the worst-case scenario.

As always, the best way to stay up-to-date on all of the decisions the district is making during this time is to visit our website and social media channels. And to our beloved teachers: we continue to be optimistic that the same spirit of community and cooperation that has gotten us through these months and years as a ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø family can continue to guide us as we chart a course for the future.

July 1, 2020
 

Dear ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Brightwaters Community,

I want to take this opportunity to thank you again for the patience and cooperation you have shown throughout the last few months. None of us could have imagined that our in-person school year would be interrupted by such unprecedented circumstances. In my more than two decades in education, I have never experienced something like what we have gone through. The resilience that was shown by our students and our staff was nothing short of impressive.

As we begin to look towards next year, I want to share information with you about our plans for the 2020-2021 school year. The district task force on reopening has been meeting to discuss what school may look like in the fall and the logistics involved in each potential model. We are still awaiting guidance from Governor Cuomo and the New York State Education Department, however, we believe it is important to share information with you about the possibilities we are considering.

There are currently three scenarios under consideration for the school year, which is scheduled to begin on September 8, 2020. The first is “traditional” in-person learning, with students in our classrooms. The school day or layout may look different to accommodate social distancing and to follow any restrictions put in place by New York State or local officials. The second is distance learning, with students receiving lessons and completing assignments online. The third is a hybrid model that would incorporate both in-person learning and distance learning.

The decisions that are made regarding reopening will be based on protecting the health and safety of our students, staff and community, while acting in accordance with the regulations placed upon schools. 

We will continue to provide updates through this page, as well as phone blasts and social media, as we move closer to September 8, 2020. I thank you in advance for your understanding and continued support.

Parents, keep an eye open for a reopening survey the district will be sending out in the coming weeks. We want your input and we hope that you will respond to the survey when you receive it.

Yours truly,

Joseph C. Bond

Superintendent