On the new superintendent's first day on the job, nearly 500 members of the East Ramapo Teachers Association gathered at the district offices after school to call attention to protracted contract talks. After a group settled under his window, Superintendent Ira Oustatcher came outside and walked wth ERTA President Irene Bielski, shown here speaking into the bullhorn held by Susan LoRusso. The next week Oustatcher sat down with the union leadership; the following week they worked out a deal. 'The teachers really came out when they were asked and I think that helped,' Bielski said. The new five-year contract provides a 15.55 percent salary increase, and elementary teachers will receive an additional prep period per week. The union will designate one representative for each building to be free of duty assignments so they can attend to union business in the building. To provide more instructional time for students, a ninth period will be added to the school day. It will be staffed only by teachers who volunteer to work periods 2-9 rather than the regular periods 1-8 work day. 'We'll see how it works out,' Bielski said. 'I've stressed that it's voluntary and a number of members said they like the idea of more flexible scheduling.' The negotiations team was headed by ERTA Vice President Matt Mulligan. Photo by Joe DiVincenzo.