Supporters of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich clerical staff spoke at the Nov. 12 school board meeting to voice their concerns with the district.
“I was very surprised to hear that Oyster Bay’s clerical department has been working without a contract for over a year now,” resident Kimberly Shiller said.
Shiller has lived in Oyster Bay for 14 years and has taught in a nearby school district for 20, she said.
“Considering that we, as residents, are paying an extraordinary amount in taxes, I wonder why we have only been granting wage increases to administrators,” she said.
Ianni is the highest-paid employee in the district, earning over $379,000 per year, according to SeeThroughNY. He is the third-highest-paid superintendent in Nassau County.
“I have real world experience as a parent and as an employee working in a local school district,” Shiller said.
“I’m also the proud daughter of a former school secretary, and she taught me the value of hard work,” Shiller said.
“I’ve lived here for over 30 years,” said resident Dawn Stien. “And I’m surprised that the clericals have had to go without a contract.”
Stein and Shiller said the clerical staff pays 25% of the total healthcare contribution.
“It seems to me that would be very difficult for someone who’s making, on average, $50,729,” Stein said.
Stein said after taxes and healthcare contributions, a clerical staff member would make between $11,000 and $35,000, depending on their marital status.
“It doesn’t seem right,” Stein said. “It doesn’t seem fair.”
Shiller said she has been very pleased with the clerical staff as a parent in the district.
“As a parent, I cannot say enough kind words about all the interactions with the clerical staff here in Oyster Bay-East Norwich,” she said.
Shiller said the clerical staff has worked through administration and teacher turnover to help the school community.
“I know how much I depend on my clerical staff in my own school district, and I see the value in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich staff,” Shiller said.
She said the unfairness between salaries may contribute to future turnover in the district.
“Not fostering a climate of fairness contributes to an increased turnover, and that is not what Oyster Bay-East Norwich should be about,” Shiller said.
Ianni said he cannot discuss negotiations at the Board of Education meeting.
“Unfortunately in our position over here, we cannot respond,” he said. “We cannot discuss [the] negotiation that is going on.”
“We value our secretarial staff,” he said.
Ianni said there would be a meeting on Nov. 19 regarding the matter.
