By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
With the Lawrence Township Education Association’s contract set to expire today and no sign of a settlement in sight, the teachers’ union and the Lawrence Township Board of Education have agreed to seek mediation.
The two sides filed a request with the Public Employees Relations Commission for a mediator earlier this month, according to school board vice president Leon Kaplan. The board’s negotiations committee met with its LTEA counterpart June 7, and decided to seek help.
”We made some progress,” Mr. Kaplan said. But ultimately, the two sides are too far apart on the financial issues including salaries and they could not bridge the gap themselves, he said. That’s why a mediator is being sought, he said, adding that this is “the normal next step” in the process.
”You put in your application, you get in line and you wait,” Mr. Kaplan said, adding that a mediator may not be assigned until the fall.
LTEA president Barbara Levine declined to comment.
The LTEA’s three-year contract would have expired June 30, 2010, but it was extended for a year after the union agreed to a one-year wage freeze. The LTEA represents about 500 teachers, guidance counselors, Child Study Team members, nurses, instructional assistants, custodians, cleaners, buildings and grounds staff and secretaries.
The base salaries for LTEA staff who hold state certificates range from $52,120 to $86,970 for 2010-11. For the custodial and maintenance staff, the base salary ranges from $35,587 to $53,578. Secretaries earn between $41,157 and $58,520.

