OCTOBER 30, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
A teachers’ rally took place Monday outside the Education Center.
The event occurred just before Michael Yannone, president of the Ridgewood Education Association (REA), entered the building to commence the second and potentially final negotiating session with a mediator present between the REA and the Ridgewood Board of Education.
“This is a sign of unity for the negotiating team that’s about to walk in there,” Yannone said at the event. “As a member of that team, I greatly appreciate this.”
Ridgewood Board of Education President Sheila Brogan said while a settlement wasn’t reached at the meeting, “The board understands the teachers’ wish for a settlement. We too want to settle the contract.
“We had a positive dialogue, but were unable to settle the contract,” she said. “The fact finder spent the evening talking with both sides and decided to move the process to a formal fact-finding hearing.”
According to Brogan, the fact finder is scheduled to return to Ridgewood on Feb. 3.
“At the hearing, he will listen to both sides and issue a non-binding opinion in an attempt to settle the contract, she said.
“Moving forward, the board’s negotiating team is willing to meet with the REA’s team to resolve issues and settle the contract.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/rea-rallies-as-talks-continue-1.1444781