Salaries to increase around two percent a year
By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
MONROE — A split decision of the Board of Education last week finally passed a contract for the district’s teachers, officials confirmed this week.
The board voted 4-3 to accept the teacher’s contract from the Monroe Township Education Association at its meeting on Oct. 15.
The vote confirmed an agreement for the period from Jul. 1, 2014-June 30 2017.
The agreement will result in a l.98 percent, 2 percent, and 2.02 percent increase in salaries during the next the three years.
Part of agreement was also retroactive, because the teacher pay was frozen previously last year.
According to the MTEA and the Monroe Board of Education, the contract is still in the process of being signed.
"The MTEA was willing to make major concessions appropriate to the well-being of its members allowing the Board to offer salary increases for the life of the agreement," Board President Kathy Kolupanowich said in a statement Wednesday. "I believe that this was a very favorable outcome for the Monroe Township school community and the citizens of Monroe Township as a result of the Board’s and Association’s willingness to work together toward the common goal of achieving a settlement that will support the continued provision of a high quality education for the students of the Monroe Township School District, competitive salaries for the Association members, and a limited impact on the taxpayers of Monroe."
According to President of the MTEA Caren Castaldo, there were some givebacks in the agreement.
Ms. Castaldo said her association gave back provisional insurance at the end of the contract and everyone moved to PPO or whichever plan the board offers. Also, teachers moved from a 90-day over the counter prescription to a 90-day mail-in service.
There were also givebacks on tuition reimbursement, and a freeze on stipends.
"Under these unfortunate circumstances we got the best deal we thought we were going to get," said Ms. Castaldo.
Ms. Castaldo then referenced her frustration with Chapter 78, now in it’s fourth year, which has teachers pay more for their health insurance.
Gov. Chris Christie signed Chapter 78 into law in 2011.
"Chapter 78 is the thing that is hurting all employees across the board," she said. "If someone is making $80,000 a year, they would be losing $7,700 per year, or about $375 a paycheck. For teachers on the lower-end of the pay scale, its hurting them. I have had several members call me in tears and say chapter 78 is killing them."