REA - Page 11 of 11 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on November 13, 2015 June 27, 2021

REA members did not listen to BOE

BOE Meets on November 16 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, November 16, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting may also be viewed on FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.

Click here to view the agenda for the November 2, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the minutes of the October 19, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.

11.03.15: Board of Education Issues Statement on Contract Negotiations
Click here to read a November 2, 2015 statement by the Ridgewood Board of Education, “Negotiations Status Report.”

REA members did not listen to BOE

NOVEMBER 13, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
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REA members did not listen to BOE

To the Editor:

As a regular attendee of the Board of Education meetings of late, I would like to express one fact that was missing from last week’s article that appeared on your front page (“Fact-finder returns in February,” Nov. 6, page A-1).

Your staff writer accurately reported the following: “… opening remarks were made; a couple of presentations took place; and then public comments opened up, with various members of the REA coming to the microphone to have their say.”

He then continued with, “After the public comments, Sheila Brogan, president of the board, read from a prepared statement, explaining that the talks between the REA and BOE had slowed once again…”

What your reporter failed to include in his article is that immediately after the REA chief negotiator made her comments at the microphone, all the REA members present exited the building. Ms. Brogan’s reading of the prepared statement was made to an intimate group of us after the throng of REA members left. The REA members did not even grant to a volunteer elected official, to whom they are asking a lot, the courtesy of listening to her. The board listened to them, but I can only guess that the REA felt not compelled to show the decency of listening in return.

Pick your statement: “Actions speak louder than words” or “Adults are to be role models for the younger people.”

Bob Hutton

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-rea-members-did-not-listen-to-boe-1.1454653

Posted on November 6, 2015 November 6, 2015

Fact-finder for Ridgewood teacher contract talks to return in February

NOVEMBER 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Despite recent optimism that contract discussions between the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) and Ridgewood Education Association (REA) could conclude in the near future, the process seems to have ground to a halt once again.

This past week’s BOE meeting featured a series of events that have become standard: opening remarks were made; a couple of presentations took place; and then public comments opened up, with various members of the REA coming to the microphone to have their say. While not all of the comments were related to the negotiations, the majority were.

After the public comments, Sheila Brogan, president of the board, read from a prepared statement, explaining that the talks between the REA and BOE had slowed once again, and that even with the state-appointed mediator, no agreement could be hammered out.

“As has been the case since the parties’ first meeting back in February 2015, when the association declared an impasse, the main issues have been negotiating the levels of employee share of health care premiums, the cost of premium and type of plan and fair salary increases while staying within what the board feels the taxpayers can support,” Brogan said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/fact-finder-returns-in-february-1.1449843

Posted on October 30, 2015 October 30, 2015

Ridgewood teachers rally as contract talks continue

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

Posted on October 23, 2015 October 23, 2015

Exchange between Ridgewood school board, REA is troubling

Exchange between school board, REA is troubling

To The Editor:

I am troubled by the exchange between Ridgewood teachers and the Board of Education in recent letters to the editor of this newspaper.

As I understand it, Chapter 78, a state law that phased in greater employee contributions to healthcare, is now fully implemented. The law says, “After full implementation, those contribution levels will become part of the parties’ collective negotiations and will then be subject to collective negotiations in a manner similar to other negotiable items between the parties.” I believe this means that, under current law, our board is expected to look at both salaries and healthcare in order to reach a satisfying agreement with the Ridgewood Education Association.

Yet, it seems as if teachers are appealing to the board to negotiate healthcare as well as salaries. In a letter to the editor, Pat Rosenfeld asks the board to “step up and negotiate alternate cost sharing arrangements.” Donna Pedersen echoes this request in her letter and says, “All that I am requesting of our Board of Education is to have respect for us as educators, professionals, and community members and to sit down with the REA to talk about the cost of our healthcare benefits.” In both letters, teachers seem to be pleading for a negotiation process that I believe is currently expected under state law. So I ask, If negotiation is stipulated in Chapter 78, why is this appeal necessary?

My last point is an observation. Based on the board’s information, 413 of the 520 teachers earn less than $100,000 per year. Most teachers do not enter the field of education in order to get rich. From my experience, most Ridgewood teachers work hard and care deeply about their students and education. In return, they expect a reasonable standard of living in an outrageously expensive area. Equally important, they want a Board of Education that negotiates both healthcare arrangements and salaries, which, as I understand it, is stipulated in Chapter 78, a state law.

Sally Lewis

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-union-boe-exchanges-are-troubling-1.1439295

Posted on October 20, 2015 October 20, 2015

Ridgewood BOE addresses Raising Teacher Healthcare Costs

The following letter appeared in The Ridgewood News on October 16, 2015.

To the Editor: At our October 5th Board of Education meeting and in last week’s letters to the editor, several of our teachers voiced opposition to the employee healthcare premium contributions phased in over the last four years under state law, known as Chapter 78. We would like to clarify the information on the healthcare contribution. The rates by which Ridgewood teachers contribute to their individual healthcare premiums is determined by a graduated structure, with employees at higher end of salary grades paying a greater percentage of their individual premiums than those at the lower end.

The highest paid teachers contribute 35 percent of their plans’ premiums while the lowest paid teachers pay 12 percent. The contribution level of 35 percent is applied to salaries of $95,000 and above when the employee has single coverage and $110,000 and above when the employee chooses family coverage. The majority of our teachers are enrolled in the School Employee Health Benefits Plan NJ Direct 10. At present, premiums are $10,610 for single coverage and $29,177 for family coverage.

The teacher who earns $95,000 and has single coverage would contribute $3,713 and a teacher earning $110,000 enrolled in the family plan would contribute $10,212. This year the total health insurance premium cost for the REA members is $10,228,960. Of that amount, they contribute $2,628,843. The net health insurance cost to the district is $7,600,117. With insurance premiums increasing annually, sometimes dramatically, controlling the growth of health care costs is challenging for all employers, in both the public and private sectors.

With the legislated 2 percent cap on property tax increases, keeping the school district’s overall costs within the cap is particularly challenging when cost drivers such as healthcare grow at a rate in excess of 2 percent. This year, the district offered employees 20 different plans through the School Employee Health Benefit Plan. Some of these plans have lower premiums. With lower premiums, the amount spent on insurance and the contribution cost would decrease.

The Board respects our teachers and appreciates the work they do. We share their concerns about rising healthcare costs as well as the increasing demands brought about by state mandates and our collective efforts to improve and update our curricula and programs. We know that through their great work our students thrive and our school district is well respected. Our appreciation is demonstrated in their compensation. Our teachers’ average salary of $82,500 is near the top of all Bergen County districts, while our starting salary of $55,693 for a first-year teacher with a Bachelors of Arts degree is at the very top (based upon collective bargaining agreements on file at the New Jersey School Board Association). Currently, 107 of our 520 teachers earn $100,000 or more. As stated at the Board meeting, our negotiating team is willing to meet with the REA team to settle the contract.

Ridgewood Board of Education

Sheila Brogan, President Vincent Loncto, Vice President Christina Krauss Jim Morgan Jennie Smith Wilson

Posted on October 12, 2015 October 12, 2015

School board must talk healthcare : Time for Teachers to Go on Obamacare

Ridgewood NJ , School board must talk healthcare costs with union no truer statement has ever been said and since the teachers unions were overwhelming supporters of Obamacare for the rest of us ,its high time they participate in the “healthcare” they pushed on the rest of America .

OCTOBER 9, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2015, 12:30 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

BOE must talk healthcare costs with REA

To the Editor:

I am proud to say that I have been educating 6 and 7 year olds in this community for 32 years. Many of these children have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, actors, and most dear to my heart, teachers, as well as numerous other professions. The one thing they have in common is Ridgewood and the superior education they received here.

As I enter into my 33rd year of teaching, I look into the eyes of my current students, knowing the path in front of them will lead them to a successful future because of the dedicated teachers and administrators who work here.

Each year, teachers are asked to do more and more for less and less. We all understand the economic realities that face us today. Teachers are taxpayers, too, and we all have our own budgets to balance.

As a member of the REA, this is my 11th contract negotiation, and it is sad to observe that every negotiation has become more and more acrimonious; however, never in my 33 years has a Ridgewood Board of Education refused to discuss all of the topics that need to be negotiated, specifically healthcare.

Every day I come to work knowing both parents and administrators expect me to be keeping the best interests of my students in mind. I would like to think that the board is doing the same for my colleagues and me. My personal contribution in 2012 to our health benefit package was over $2,200. In 2015, I am now contributing almost $10,000, which is a 350 percent increase. However, my salary certainly did not increase that much. It actually increased by 4.9 percent over the same time period. Anyone retiring from Ridgewood within the next five years will not be able to make the same amount of money that he/she did in 2012. That is just wrong!

All that I am requesting of our Board of Education is to have respect for us as educators, professionals, and community members and to sit down with the REA to talk about the cost of our healthcare benefits.

Donna Pedersen

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-school-board-must-talk-healthcare-costs-with-union-1.1428787

Posted on September 27, 2015 September 27, 2015

Ridgewood School board addresses comments by teachers union leader

School board addresses comments by teachers union leader

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

BOE addresses union leader’s statements

To the Editor:

Mike Yannone, Ridgewood Education Association (REA) president, made several erroneous statements at the Sept. 21 Ridgewood Board of Education meeting that warrant response.

* A $2.5 million tax burden is being placed on teachers.

It is not a tax. State law known as “Chapter 78,” phased in over four years, requires that all public employees contribute towards their health benefits. The $2.5 million is the sum of this year’s contribution.

* The board passed a resolution to remove collective bargaining rights for teachers and did not provide it to the public.

Last March, the board approved a resolution asking that Chapter 78 be excluded from negotiations. This resolution was posted on the board and superintendent’s web pages at ridgewood.k12.nj.us within 24 hours of the board approving the meeting minutes.

* Contract negotiations are stalled due to a highly paid RBOE attorney spokesperson.

The RBOE has included an attorney on its negotiating team for over 15 years. He is an experienced, reasonably priced attorney. The REA’s negotiating team includes a NJEA representative. The REA collects over $650,000 annually from its members. Some of this money is used to pay NJEA for this service.

* The settlement of the contract is not the top board goal.

This is untrue. On Sept. 21, the RBOE approved a goal “to negotiate with the REA to settle a new contract.” It is a priority for this year.

* The district says its financial hands are tied, which is disrespectful to teachers.

The district’s annual budget is capped at 2 percent on the amount the tax levy can be increased. Law mandates this and it is the reality under which we operate. Disrespecting our staff is not part of the equation. We honor and appreciate the fine work of our staff.

* Each year the board hires new administrators who are doing less work.

In 2008, the board was forced to reduce administrative positions when all categorical state aid was cut. Over the last three years, we have rebuilt our administrative team. We have reinstated five administrators and added 33 teachers. Every staff member — administrators, teachers and support staff — are doing more work, not less.

Mr. Yannone asked if the RBOE was going to Atlantic City again at taxpayers’ expense. Yes, the Board of Education will attend the NJSBA workshop in October. Board members are the only New Jersey elected officials legally required to receive training. Workshop provides this training and opportunities to learn about best practices and hone leadership skills. The district pays for registration and accommodations.

The RBOE has high regard for our talented teaching staff and secretaries. The partnership with our teachers is a longstanding one that values their input in improving education for our students. In negotiating a contract, the board is mindful of the financial reality and tasked to balance this reality with the need to fairly compensate our teachers.

Ridgewood Board of Education

Sheila Brogan, President

Vincent Loncto, Vice President

Christina Krauss

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-school-board-addresses-comments-by-teachers-union-leader-1.1418197

Posted on September 25, 2015 September 25, 2015

Ridgewood teacher contract talks heating up

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Tense contract negotiations between the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) and Ridgewood Education Association (REA) ramped up this week.

“The negotiations are not going well,” said REA President Michael Yannone in a conversation with The Ridgewood News earlier this week.

While a number of issues remain to be settled, the main two are salary requirements and healthcare benefits, which are always paired in discussions, Yannone said.

“This board doesn’t believe they should have to negotiate health benefits,” Yannone said.

Without some leeway from the BOE, no progress will be made, he added.

Yannone also spoke at this week’s BOE meeting, flanked by Ridgewood teachers in a sign of solidarity.

“The teachers of this community feel disrespected,” Yannone said at the meeting. “Ridgewood was always a school district that prided itself as being at the forefront of education. Teachers felt respected here and believed their voice had value. Those days are gone.

“Teachers now feel as if they are merely nickels and dimes — a revenue stream for this board — with money going out, and more and more employee money coming back to this board,” he said.

This drew a standing ovation from the assembled crowd of teachers, who so packed the Education Center meeting room that many had to stand.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/contract-negotiations-heating-up-1.1418121

Posted on September 22, 2015 September 22, 2015

Ridgewood Board of Education Continuing contract negotiations with the Ridgewood Education Association Update

September 11, 2015 Dear Parent or Guardian:

In July, the Ridgewood Board of Education (RBOE) announced that contract negotiations with the Ridgewood Education Association (REA), which began in February 2015, were moving from official mediation through the NJ Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) to the fact-finding stage, also through PERC.

Our first fact-finding session will be held on September 16, 2015. During this time, the teachers and secretaries continue to receive their full salaries and benefits and work under the terms, conditions and protections of the expired contract that began on July 1, 2012, and ended on June 30, 2015. It is important to remember that our teachers and secretaries are working within the contractually specified hours listed below and that drop-off and pick-up times at our schools must be followed:

 Elementary schools: 8 a.m.-3:35 p.m. PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILD OFF PRIOR TO 8:35 A.M. AND PICK UP AT 3 P.M.

 Middle schools: 7:45 a.m.-3:20 p.m. PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILD OFF PRIOR TO 7:45 A.M. AND PICK UP AT 2:55 P.M.

 Ridgewood High School: 7:40 a.m.-3:15 p.m. DROP OFF AND PICK UP WILL BE THE SAME

In addition, please understand that during this stage in the negotiations, teachers may decline to do some activities that fall outside of the contract. For example, they may decline to chaperone overnight/after school field trips, decline to participate or volunteer in activities that they had in the past, or may adhere to the 7.5 hour daily contract hours by arriving and leaving on time each school day. If any such actions occur that result in changes or cancellation of certain activities, school principals and other administrators will explain the reason why.

Many parents have offered to volunteer and take over these responsibilities. Some activities can be sponsored or supervised by parents, while others can’t for various insurance and personal liability reasons. Please see your principal for guidance. While changes to activities may be an unfortunate reality during this period, it is important to stress that the RBOE and REA are working towards an agreement that satisfies both parties. Throughout the State of New Jersey, negotiations are taking place between teacher associations and Boards of Education.

The vast majority of contract negotiations, almost 80 percent, are not completed prior to the expiration of the preceding contract. Finally, if the fact-finder is unsuccessful in mediating an agreement, both parties will present their “case,” and a written report will be prepared that will be made public 10 days after they receive his non-binding findings. Thank you in advance for your understanding as the RBOE and REA work through this process and complete the negotiations in the shortest time possible.

Sincerely,

Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

Posted on September 12, 2015 September 11, 2015

Nothing like a 100 Million dollar Ridgewood School Budget

Do it fer da kidz

September 11, 2015

Dear Parent or Guardian:

During this time, the teachers and secretaries continue to receive their full salaries and benefits and work under the terms, conditions and protections of the expired contract that began on July 1, 2012, and ended on June 30, 2015.

It is important to remember that our teachers and secretaries are working within the contractually specified hours listed below and that drop-off and pick-up times at our schools must be followed:

Elementary schools: 8 a.m.-3:35 p.m.

PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILD OFF PRIOR TO 8:35 A.M. AND PICK UP AT 3 P.M.

Middle schools: 7:45 a.m.-3:20 p.m.

PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILD OFF PRIOR TO 7:45 A.M. AND PICK UP AT 2:55 P.M.

Ridgewood High School: 7:40 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP WILL BE THE SAME

While changes to activities may be an unfortunate reality during this period, it is important to stress that the RBOE and REA are working towards an agreement that satisfies both parties. Throughout the State of New Jersey, negotiations are taking place between teacher associations and Boards of Education. The vast majority of contract negotiations, almost 80 percent, are not completed prior to the expiration of the preceding contract.

Finally, if the fact-finder is unsuccessful in mediating an agreement, both parties will present their “case,” and a written report will be prepared that will be made public 10 days after they receive his non-binding findings.

Thank you in advance for your understanding as the RBOE and REA work through this process and complete the negotiations in the shortest time possible.

Sincerely,

Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Posted on August 5, 2015 August 5, 2015

Ridgewood School Teacher Contract Negations Rest in the Hands of a Mediator

August 5,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Board of Education negotiations with the REA have moved at a methodical pace according to the BOE press release on July 23, 2015 :

The Ridgewood Board of Education and the Ridgewood Education Association (“REA”) are parties to a Collective Bargaining Agreement that began on July 1, 2012 and ended June 30, 2015. Negotiations with the REA towards a new Agreement began in February 2015.

At this initial meeting, impasse was declared over the differences in the REA’s and the Board’s proposals pertaining to health insurance premium contributions. The REA proposed a reduction in Chapter 78 contributions. The Board told the REA that it would not agree to change or reduce the formula percentages set forth by Chapter 78. In 2011, Governor Christie signed into law P.L. 2011, c. 78, better known as “Chapter 78.” Chapter 78 mandated that all public sector employees contribute to their health benefit premiums. These contributions were to be phased-in over four (4) years under a statutory formula; after which they would be subject to collective negotiations.

On June 30, 2015, teachers and secretaries of the Ridgewood Public Schools completed the mandatory four (4) year phase-in. Since our first meeting in February, the Board and the Association have met four more times in March and April and with the state appointed mediator in May and June.

Our last meeting was on June 2, 2015, when the Board and the Association met with the Mediator for several hours, without success. The Mediator advised us that she would be deferring the negotiations to the fact-finding stage. Factfinders are assigned through the NJ Public Employment Relations Commission and they, like mediators, specialize in public sector negotiations. A Fact-finder’s initial role may be very similar to the role of a Mediator, and likely attempt to mediate a settlement. The Board and the REA will continue to negotiate with each other in good faith in a respectful manner. While the parties work with the Fact-finder, all of the terms and conditions of the current Agreement continue. During this time, the teachers and secretaries will continue to receive their full salaries and benefits.

Posted on July 31, 2015 July 31, 2015

Ridgewood school board, union hope to iron out contract

JULY 31, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Despite the start of the school year rapidly approaching, the Board of Education and Ridgewood Education Association (REA) have been unable to agree on a new contract.

The current contract, which began on July 1, 2012, expired at the end of June.

Mike Yannone, president of the REA, confirmed this week that the organization’s members are working without a new contract. The REA represents 550 teachers, secretaries and counselors in the Ridgewood school district.

“When our contract expires, we continue to work under the terms of the old contract,” Yannone said. “We will honor the contract, and the kids will be taught.”

However, the optimal result is for an agreement to be hammered out as quickly as possible.

“I would love to be able to talk to the other side,” Yannone said, adding that he understands that setting up a meeting can be difficult over the summer.

The main sticking point of the negotiations is a dispute over health insurance premium contributions.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/sides-hoping-to-iron-out-contract-1.1384018