Sources: Yearly hike of 4.75%
By: Dick Brinster
Teachers in the East Windsor Regional School District, who have worked without a contract this fall, have come to terms with the school board on a tentative deal.
"We have a contract and they’re thrilled," said Bob Laverty, the board’s chief negotiator after Monday night’s school board meeting. "We’re happy to reach a very good settlement with the teachers."
While Mr. Laverty would only say that the agreement was completed just before the meeting, sources say the teachers are looking at a three-year pact with annual pay raises of 4.75 percent.
The sources, close to both the board and the East Windsor Education Association, said Wednesday that the contract would be put to a union ratification vote Tuesday. The school board is expected to act Nov. 27.
Both sources said the agreement for about 400 teachers was delayed for several weeks while teachers sought an increase from an original offer of 4.65 percent.
EWEA chief Jan Amenhauser has not responded to calls seeking comment.
"The teachers are having a meeting today (Wednesday), and will be given the details," the source close to the EWEA said. "They’ll have three days to look at it, and will vote Tuesday."
Mr. Laverty said in August that the salary guide was the only item needing agreement in a package agreed to in principle on June 22.
Under the three-year deal that expired June 30, pay for a beginning teacher increased from $38,470 to $42,620. The teacher highest on the pay scale, one with a doctoral degree and at least 22 years of experience, got $74,138, up from $68,515.
A 4.75 percent increase would put the starting salary for a beginning teacher at about $44,600. The highest possible salary would be about $77,600.
There would be a change in medical and dental insurance coverage in the new deal, the source close to the board confirmed without detail Wednesday. Last summer sources said the medical deductible would be raised as would the co-pay, which under the current deal is $10 for generic drugs and $15 for name-brand pharmaceuticals.
But teachers would not be asked to contribute from their paychecks, one source said at the time. The policy of no contributions by the teachers, which board members say is the industry standard, drew criticism from some taxpayers at public forums in May on the defeated $79.2 million school budget.
Prior to the meeting Monday night, about 75 members of the East Windsor Regional Support Staff Association paraded silently while bearing placards seeking a new contract.
"Time to give us a contract," and "Our performance is your pride," read some of the signs carried by bus drivers, secretaries, clerks, custodians and other workers in front of a few board members seated prior to the meeting.
The association represents about 285 employees.
"We are in negotiations for about a year-and-a-half and we want to settle, but we can’t with proposals that are conflicting, and we want to secure our members’ rights," said negotiation chairwoman Bernadette Citarella, a teacher’s assistant who declined to reveal further details of bargaining with the board.
A source told the Herald this week that a mediation session between support staff representatives and the board is scheduled for Nov. 28.
In other business Monday, the board agreed to buy 160 desktop computers for the four elementary schools and the Melvin H. Kreps Middle School, and an additional 20 laptops for Hightstown High School.
"This will allow us to put a lab in every elementary building," Assistant Superintendent Mike Dzwonar said. "We hope to have all this installed before the end of this year and usable by students in January."
He said the purchases for Kreps will allow them to open a third lab.
The agreement with Dell computers calls for an expenditure of $156,806 for the desktops and $27,760 for the laptops. Mr. Dzwonar said a federal grant obtained last month for $90,000 and budgeted operating funds will cover the cost of the computers.
Mr. Dzwonar said no bidding was necessary because the computers are being purchased under a state contract with the vendor.

