By FRANK NARDOZZI Record Review 06-02-2000

Stung by recent criticism of the top salaries paid to school teachers in the Bedford Central School District, Schools Superintendent Bruce Dennis has released a comparison of how Bedford's salaries stack up against other districts in Westchester and Putnam counties this year.

Starting salaries for teachers in Bedford Central at the lowest seniority levels are actually below the county median for the two-county area. Salaries for teachers in Bedford at the highest seniority levels are above the county median, but competitive with the highest paying districts.

The favorable comparisons in starting salaries are due to the four year teachers contract that was negotiated by the school district with the teachers' union in 1998. Pay for new teachers at all levels was reduced by $9,000 over a five-year phase-in period starting in this school year.

The phase-in called for a reduction in new teachers' salaries of $3,000 this year, with a reduction of $2,500 next year, $2,000 in the third year, $1,000 in the fourth year and $500 in the fifth year.

No salary increases for any teachers were provided for in the first year of the contract, with a 3.2 percent increase provided for in the second and third years of the contract and a 3.3 percent increase provided for in the final year.

In addition, modifications to the teachers' benefits package were said to amount to a savings of as much as $750,000 per year for the district. Health insurance deductibles were increased from $75 to $250 for individuals and from $225 to $750 for families. Co-payments for medical services were increased from $5 to $10. The co-pay for prescriptions was increased from $3 to $10 and for generic drugs from $ 3 to $5.

A new teachers contract will be negotiated in 2002.

According to the statistics released by the school district, the comparison of Bedford teachers' salaries to other school districts in Westchester and Putnam for 1999-2000 is as follows:

Salaries at lowest seniority

The starting salary for new teachers at the lowest seniority levels in Bedford is actually $189 less than the two-county median, $42,436 in Bedford as compared to $42,625 in the two counties. Starting salaries for teachers in neighboring districts are higher - $47,117 in Byram Hills and $43,604 in Katonah-Lewisboro. Byram Hills pays the highest starting salaries in both counties.

In Bedford, the startling salary for a new teacher with a master's degree plus 30 credits is $1,336 less than the two-county median, $44,630 in Bedford as compared to $45,966 in the two counties. The starting salary for comparable teachers in Byram Hills was $49,960 and $45,974 in

Katonah-Lewisboro. The highest starting salary paid at this level is $50,945 in the Harrison School District.

And starting salaries for a teacher in Bedford with a master's degree plus 60 credits is $2,556 less than the two-county median: $46,825 in Bedford compared to $49,381 in the two counties. The starting salary for comparable teachers in Byram Hills was $53,735 and $48,344 in Katonah-Lewisboro.

Salaries at highest seniority

on the highest end of the salary scale, teachers with the greatest seniority in Bedford make more than the county median, however, the salaries are competitive with the highest-paying districts in the two counties.

on the highest end of teachers' seniority, teachers with a master's degree on step 15 of the salary scale in Bedford make $80,526, as compared to the two-county median of

$72,640. Comparable teachers in Byram Hills make $70,519, and those in Kato nah- Lewisboro make $78,878. The highest salary paid is $82,654, by the Scarsdale School District.

Teachers with a master's degree plus 30 credits on step' 15 of the salary scale in Bedford make $83,792, as compared to the two county median of $77,307. Comparable teachers in Byram Hills make $80,827, and those in Kato nah -Lewisboro make $82,028. The highest salary paid is $87,311, again by the Scarsdale School District.

And teachers with a master's degree plus 60 credits on step 15 of the salary scale in Bedford make $87,324, as compared to the two county median of $82,753. Comparable teachers in Byram Hills make $82,270, and those in Katonah-Lewisboro make $85,178. The highest salary paid is $91,967, once again in Scarsdale.