Contract negotiations for teachers Thursday
By:Josh Appelbaum
Cranbury residents came out to Monday’s Board of Education meeting to support the board before contract negotiations resumed Thursday.
About 30 teachers sat in on the meeting, most wearing blue "United in Excellence" T-shirts.
Residents praised the board’s dedication in representing the community in talks and lobbied for competitive salaries and benefits for teachers.
The school board and the Cranbury Education Association, which represents 60 teachers and support staff, have said they would not comment on specifics of contract negotiations.
The CEA and the school board have been working on a new contract for about seven months. Contract negotiations went to mediation after the CEA announced in August that it had reached an impasse, citing teacher salary increases and health benefits as the sticking points.
A representative from the state Public Employment Relations Commission, Tom Hartigan, was appointed to help both sides. The most recent three-year contract expired July 1.
Cranbury School art teacher Tamara Woronczuk read from a prepared statement, and said teachers in Cranbury were paid less than teachers in Princeton, South Brunswick and West Windsor.
"The salary scale in the district is historically low teachers get huge raises in other communities," Ms. Woronczuk said.
Judy Dossin, a member of the Parks Planning Commission, said she hoped the school board and the CEA would come to an equitable agreement quickly, with the interests of both the community and students in mind.
"It distresses me that we are not getting closer (to an agreement)," Ms. Dossin said.
She said despite high property values and the common belief that Cranbury is an affluent community, the board needs to address the needs of the entire community.
"The school board has looked out for this community, and believe it or not, there are those who struggle in this community, and the board has to represent the community as a whole," said Ms. Dossin.
Richard Johnson read a statement as a resident, and not as president of the Cranbury Education Foundation, a charitable organization that raises money and resources for the Cranbury School. He said teachers deserved competitive salaries but the board cannot simply "write a blank check."
"Can the ‘gag order’ be lifted so everyone knows what the issues really are? If not, could both sides covenant to follow it? And those not involved including the media respect that?" Mr. Johnson said.
Board President Joan Rue said both sides agreed not to speak about the specifics of contract negotiations because talks progress more quickly when parties not involved with the issues aren’t a part of the negotiation process.
Ms. Rue said it is to the benefit of both negotiating teams that the "gag rule" exists. She said Wednesday that not discussing terms of negotiations avoids "increasingly emotional tension".
Kindergarten teacher Audrey Smith said Tuesday she is confident each side has faith in its negotiation team.
Speakers supporting both sides were generally positive about the possibility of coming to an equitable agreement. Teacher Kathy Bonazzi said the board needs to recognize the value of the district’s teachers, who she said have helped the district garner Blue Ribbon awards.
"The Board of Education members have a willingness to serve the community and I hope as we go into this week’s negotiations you remember who we are and we finish the week with a contract," said Ms. Bonazzi.
Chief School Administrator Carol Malouf is confident the board and the CEA will resolve the contract impasse.
"The Board of Education is very positive about negotiations and hopes to proceed in a quick, efficient manner," Ms. Malouf said.