Negotiations between Ridgewood teachers and Board of Education remain private
THURSDAY JUNE 21, 2012, 3:22 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
While some members of the community have expressed confusion about the ongoing contract negotiations between the Board of Education (BOE) and Ridgewood teachers, those involved in the talks continue to decline to speak about its progress, citing a confidentiality agreement and the likelihood of the “chilling effect” of public interference.
BOE President Sheila Brogan, who is representing the board in the negotiations with Gary Hall, the district’s human resources manager, said that at the outset of the talks, “mutually agreed-upon ground rules” were established to maintain confidentiality about the process.
“I think it’s important so that you can have negotiations without any pressure from the outside,” Brogan said.
The have to be kept confidential…..by law.
So that’s why the teachers weren’t at graduation last night and I don’t think anyone missed them.
The teachers do not deserve a raise. They showed just how little they care about the students in Ridgewood by not attending the graduation. Give them a zero for the quarter and an F for the year. They have no problem treating our children like crap, so that is how they should be treated. If they do not like their salaries, them get a job somewhere else. Let the Board know that they have the communities support and hold to a zero percent raise!
Unless there are 2 years of zero raises, by extending these negotiations will not benefit the teachers. It would be hard to get a budget waiver from the State for retroactive raises. As for the union hacks who boycotted graduation, your actions speak volumes about how much you care about students.
After talking to teachers form other districts, it seems that Ridgewood is the only place where teachers are not part of the ceremony. In the past they have been allowed to show up and stay out of the way, but they are not recognized or respected by the process.