By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
A large number of teachers, dressed in black and gold union T-shirts, attended Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, showing solidarity in contract negotiations for the third consecutive time.
The teachers are negotiating a new three-year contract with the district and have been working without a new contract since July 1, according to South Brunswick Education Association President Chris Hines.
Both sides in the negotiations are at an impasse as the talks continue, with no agreement being reached during the last round of negotiations Jan. 22, according to Mr. Hines.
While both sides have not commented publicly on what is separating them, union members got a boost of support Monday when several residents spoke out in support of the union’s cause during the public portion of the meeting.
Annette Valero, a South Brunswick High School teacher and Kendall park resident, said she was an alumni of the school and came back to the township after being away for many years because of the school system.
”I have no children, (but) I have always voted for the school budget,” Ms. Valero said. “I doubt that any parent would look at the expectation for their child’s education and want to (see that) cut (from the budget).”
She said the district cut staff 11 percent in 2008.
”That is a significant cut,” Ms. Valero said.
She said she felt the district was expecting more from its employees but was trying to pay less for their efforts.
Several other parents of district children said they were supporting the teachers because of the excellent job the district does with the children and it is a large reason many of them decided to live in the township.
The last contract, which ended last June, gave the teachers an average increase in pay of around 3-percent a year during the three-year period.
Parent Laurie Cohen said that she “couldn’t be happier” with the education her children are receiving from the district. She also said the district’s teachers go “above and beyond” for the students.
”It saddens me that the (teachers) morale may be lowered because of the difficulties negotiating a contract,” Ms. Cohen said. ‘ I have great concerns that a lower morale may effect the quality of the education my children are receiving.”
Ms. Cohen said she is supporting the teacher’s union in the talks and hopes both sides can reach an agreement soon.

