New York City has reached a nine-year, $891 million deal with its principals and administrators that will include back pay for principals and incentives for those who take over academically underperforming schools, according to media reports.
The tentative deal between the city and the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, which represents principals, was announced over the weekend. The last contract expired in March 2010.
Principals and other union members will see a wage increase of 18 percent through the term of the contract, which covers the years 2010 through 2019, according to The New York Times.
The contract guarantees retroactive back pay to about 1,900 principals who have been promoted from the ranks of teachers to principals since 2009. Retroactive compensation for those principals had been a major point of contention between the city and the union, according to Capital New York.
The cost of the retroactive compensation—about $120 million—will be borne by both the union and the city. The city will provide $72 million, while the union will provide the rest, according to Chalkbeat New York. (The website also has a schedule of when the raises are expected to be doled out.)
Principals will receive an 8 percent salary increase retroactive to 2010 and 2011. They will also receive 10 percent salary increase from Sept. 6, 2013 to Oct. 6, 2018, according to Capital New York.
The contract will provide bonuses of $15,000 to principals and $10,000 to assistant principals who take jobs in struggling schools, which Mayor Bill de Blasio hopes will entice school leaders to take those assignments.
The tentative deal also creates the new categories of “model” and “master” principals, both of which come with additional financial incentives. Highly experienced principals and assistant principals will be offered between $10,000 and $25,000 bonuses to provide coaching in school leadership and management to fellow principals.
The deal still needs to be ratified by the union members. That is expected to be done by the end of the month, according to The New York Times.