Tag: REA

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The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, June 27, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

BOE_theridgewoodblog

BOE Meets on June 27 at 6:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, June 27, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Board Room at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place. The public is invited to attend the meeting or view it live via the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website, or on Fios tv channel 33 or Optimum 77.

Click here to view the agenda for the June 6, 2016  Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the minutes of the May 16, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the 2016-2017 Budget presented at the May 2, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the Full Day Kindergarten Recommendation presented to the Board at their March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

BOE-REA Negotiations

Click here to view the powerpoint presentation regarding the Fact Finder’s report and recommendations, presented at the June 6, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.Click here to view the presentation by Ms. Brogan and Mr. Morgan.

In accordance with New Jersey P.L. 2003, c. 126, the Board has made the May 16th Fact-finding Report and Recommendations public and has posted it to the District’s website.  At the June 6th Board of Education Public Meeting, the Board will discuss the report and the recommendations.  The Board will accept or reject the Fact-finder’s recommendations at that time. Click here to read the Fact Finders Report and Recommendations dated May 16, 2016.

Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of The Ridgewood News, published on April 8, 2016.
 
Click here to view the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Post Hearing Fact Finding Brief and attachments.

Click here to view an analysis of “Unused Funds’ identified by the REA during Fact Finding Proceedings, presented at the March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of The Ridgewood News, which appeared in the paper on March 4, 2016.

Click here to read the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

Click here to view the backup for the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

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Reader says it is time to freeze Ridgewood pensions and move onto 401K style plans and keep medical costs in line with what private sector receives

Ridgewood EA teachers protest

I am not a Christie fan but I will give him credit for trying to reel in the unsustainable pension and medical benefits public employees receive. it has to change. I don’t think it is right that money was diverted from the teacher’s pension fund starting with Christie Whitman and that has to be repaid. For heaven’s sake, it is time to freeze pensions and move onto 401K style plans and keep medical costs in line with what private sector receives. Long gone are the days when public employee salaries were lower than the private sector so delayed remuneration in the form of pensions, etc. made up the difference. As for Ridgewood’s current travesty with the NJEA and our BOE – I’m just sick. I wish all these complaining teachers could be replaced. And, yes, I’m one of those who wears the cloak of anonymity because I have kids in school and I know the teachers retaliate. Many are not as dedicated to their students and the field of education as they profess.

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Teachers Union and Supporters Continue to Attack Ridgewood Residents

REA, ridgewoood teachers

Teacher supporter claims :

Average private sector wage increases for 2015 were above 3%. Pay raises for people with college degrees are fairing even better than that. Are there people who aren’t seeing wage increases? Yes. But perhaps that says something about the person or the job rather than the economy.
Teachers have been taking home less money each year for a number of years.
Teachers will never get bonuses, no matter how good the economy gets.
Teachers will never get company cars, club memberships, or any other perks that are seen in the private sector.
Teachers will NEVER get anything more than a mediocre pay raise because of the 2% cap.
So when teachers fight for the scraps from the table it shouldn’t be a surprise.

Do you really want to devalue the profession to the point that nobody will ever want to be a teacher? There is already a teacher shortage, which will only get worse.

But keep up with the lies about teachers who don’t care. Teachers who earn $200,000 a year. Teachers who won’t write recommendations. Teachers who only work 181 days a year. Teachers who only care about taking from taxpayers while doing nothing. Keep up with these lies and tell the potential future teachers that it is not the best career path. Why would anyone subject themselves to such outright lies and hatred?

Reader responds …..What planet are you on???? Private sector wage increases above 3%??? Please provide your source because no one I know got more 3%. I got 1.5% after 4 years of 0%. My wife got 2% after getting .5% last year and 0% fand additional 4 years. Really, name your source. Everyone is taking home less and bonuses have shrunken. There are no company car, club memberships, expensive meals, expense accounts, perks. Keep lying dear teacher. There is no teacher shortage in Ridgewood; I can assure you that you can be replaced on a moments notice.

Perks? I guess if you define 12-14 hour days 12 months a year, putting hours on the weekend, long commutes, conference calls with other parts of the world at 2am, being “penalized for taking sick or personal time, skyhigh contributions to marginal healthcare perks, then I am lucky.

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Reader says , I think the reality of what has transpired with our healthcare system has not yet dawned on the Ridgewood Education Association

Ridgewood EA teachers protest

..the REA believes it a political move that they should now pay for their healthcare, and that the “social contract” always was that teachers would be low payed but have job security and free healthcare. I think the reality of what has transpired with our healthcare system has not yet dawned on the REA. Many people can not pay for their own healthcare let alone shoulder the burdens of theirs, increased taxes, etc.

…most people are now taking home less money than they did six years ago. No one is getting more than a 1 – 1.5% increase a year and everyone’s health care premiums are skyrocketing. And in the private sector, a lot of those premiums are paying for high deductible policies (my family policy is costing me $5200/year and only kicks in after the $3000 out of pocket). Again, everyone is bringing home less which means we can’t afford to pay more taxes. Sad, but true.

My employer switched to a high deductible health plan this year. I still pay $1000/ mth in premiums (employee share) plus now I have a $5k deductible.

So, my son sprained his ankle and now I get a $1000 bill from Valley because I haven’t hit my deductible yet. (That’s with the insurer negotiated rates). All doctor visits other than preventive care are out of pocket until the deductible is hit.

Thank you Obama for accelerating this for happening to me because our employer is trying to avoid the Cadillac tax.

Teachers, get real with your minimal co-pays.

Thed

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Reader says many parents feel intimidated by these Ridgewood teachers

REA, ridgewoood teachers

We have fought against Valley and garages and numerous other issues in this town. It is time to fight for our children, but so many parents feel intimidated by these teachers. They will be marching in their red outside before you go into the meeting. They have put us down. They tell us we are not educated that we don’t know the facts. The FACT is that we can not open our mouths because as soon as we do, you crush our opinion. We all see the signs around town, but maybe the teachers and the BOE should be looking at the how many houses don’t have signs…Unfortunately only two scenarios exist…the first the contract is settled which means the BOE gave into the bullying tactics of our teachers and unions. The only benefit to us is our children won’t be punished anymore…The second scenario is the contract doesn’t get signed in which case we will be living through hell. The disrespect these teachers have shown the students and parents is unacceptable. The days of teacher appreciation are over.

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Reader says ,”Get rid of the fat and focus on the mission of educating”

BOE_theridgewoodblog

The problem is not paying the teachers, the problem is that our Board of Ed treats the teacher salaries as a lower priority.  We should pay talent and retain talent.  That is the heart of any great business, especially educational businesses.

The start of the solution is getting rid of the 35 people in that building on Franklin Ave.  We have far too many administrators each of whom just creates the need for more administration, more secretaries and keep teachers from teaching kids.  If the kids in Orchard and Somerville learn a little bit different stuff in math–WHO CARES?  It will work out.  They will be close enough by the time they get to HS. Use a simple curriculum outline and let the teachers teach.

Also, its enough with the bells and whistles. Make a decision about whether you want new text books or lap tops.  You can read on a computer so you really should pick one or the other.  Use the laptop and an older text book. They will get what they need.

We dont need rock climbing walls and the insurance that goes with them.  Let them play dodge ball.  What about considering the real costs of having Football–insurance, equipment, staff, etc.  Get rid of the fat and focus on the mission of educating kids.  To me it is simple, pay the teachers and let them teach.

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In a shot heard around the World The Ridgewood Board of Education says NO!

REA, ridgewoood teachers
photo courtesy of the REA Facebook page
June 7,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Board of Education rejects state-appointed fact finder’s recommendations for a new teachers’ contract. The BOE’s rejection sends contract negotiations, at an impasse since July 2015, back to Square One.

As we have said for some time the gravely train for public employees has come to an end and proof postive is the BOE’s rejection of the compromise .The public is just not buying paying more for healthcare for teachers than for themselves and teacher union support for “Obamacare” has left many taxpayers to feel if it good enough for us its good enough for you.
However teacher advocates in town say , that the “BOE rejected third party, neutral, unbiased fact finder recommendations and refused to settle. REA was willing to compromise on several major issues and settle the contract. Teachers have been working without a contract for a full year and still performed all of their contractual duties.”

While other readers are glad the BOE is taking a stand , “God forbid you don’t agree with the teachers’ demands.  I hope the BOE takes a tough position.  Agree that with the schools’ ratings sliding downwards and raises should be performance based.  As for the healthcare plans – why would you think you are entitled to a better plan than the taxpayers who pay for yours?  The teachers obviously do not care about the children or their profession as much as they care about the almighty dollar.  They need to work a little harder and bring the school ratings up before any increases and either contribute more towards their medical insurance or agree to a less expensive plan.  Yes, that means $25 co-pays and higher deductibles”

While BOE members have taken the heat say one reader , “The withering and abusive “behind the scenes” attacks on our elected BOE officials should be an embarrassment to all teachers. Why should teachers get better health benefits than the taxpayers who help subsidize them? Surely some of the things these teachers and the REA have pulled are cause for dismissals? Why not bring in some younger teachers who actually want to work with our kids and would be thrilled to teach here?”

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Reader says Thank you tonight BOE, for supporting Ridgewood properly!

Ridgewood EA teachers protest

Thank you tonight BOE, for supporting Ridgewood properly. Not easy with all these teachers barking at you. The unions need to all be abolished. There was a time and place for these in the early nineteen hundreds. The kids are the real losers here. How can we have fair negotiations if every time it does not go their way. The sick outs start, the field trips are without teachers, and now after school clubs are being cancelled. So one sided and unfair. Shame on the teachers and their unions not the BOE. Some women had the nerve to say we will pay more taxes for these teachers…she is a party of one…even her husband won’t support that! Chuck talking about the bottom half of the county per student? Why weren’t you talking about your second shore home? That you are able to buy because of Cadillac healthcare and pensions we provide? Maybe it’s time for the truly aging overpaid teachers to go? Unions won’t allow it, That’s discrimination, etc. The fact is our teachers are paid fairly and must now use some of this pay to cover more healthcare. Same as everyone else. No one likes it but it has to be done. Healthcare is going to be the death of us all. Fact, I’d pay for the teachers healthcare premiums now if we could…my family now pays 20,000 per year, plus deductibles and $45 co-pays. Wake up teachers and know the facts not what the unions feed you. Enjoy your summer off, we”l be working to pay our very high taxes for you!

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Reader says time to tell Ridgewood Teachers “Enough is Enough”

for sale Ridgewood_Real_Estate_theRodgewopodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

Wake up teachers and your rotten unions. Time to pay more and your fair share. That is the real need here. You Gimme, Gimme, Gimmes are wrong and this why the intelligent BOE is right. Thank you BOE for doing your jobs and not rubber stamping these unreasonable demands. The parents and students should wake up and know these facts. When these reasons are known by all, the educated will support the students and the BOE. The upcoming meeting at BF will have bus loads of teachers wearing RED. While the BOE, Tax Payers should be SEEING RED! Enough is enogh, stop kicking the unions can and caving in. All contracts are shoot high and hope to reach a middle ground. No, not any more. Thank you to all o0n the BOE for standing up for us and the students. The teachers have ruined this year for all our students and we can’t get that back. Shame on the unions more than the lemming teachers. Not to be mean but to bring up an old statement. Those who can’t do teach….I’d like to add those who can’t negotiate for themselves stand behind their cowardly oh so powerful Unions…ugh, makes me sick

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Reader says We need to support the BOE and Ridgewood Students!

REA Members come out to greet our Board of Ed

We need to support the BOE and the Students. Everyone’s kids has suffered due to these teachers union this year. Class trips and after school programs are suffering. The private sectors healthcare is exploding also with no relief for us. Copays of $45, for each visit, teachers and all civil servants all need to pay their fare share and understand the pain and suffering that we are all paying more for. We are not getting raises to cover these increases nor should they. While we’re talking on this subject let’s move all to 401K plans. The system can’t handle all the retirees benefits. We will collapse soon, work 25 years then collect retirement for 35 years? Use them or lose them…no more taking $100,000s of dollars in unused sick time and vacation accrued, this is absurd. I support reasonable demands and expect our BOE professionals not to cave on unrealistic demands. Don’t get me wrong I do support teachers but can’t wait for those signs to go away!

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Ridgewood Teacher Contract Negotiations

Ridgewood EA teachers protest

June 3,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, In recent days there have been many heated arguments on social media in regards to the lack of a teacher contract.  We parents have been accused of not reacting sooner to the stalled contract negotiations.  We have placed our faith in the elected officials of the Board of Education (BOE).  The BOE officials are educated professionals who are expected to formulate opinions and make decisions regarding contract negotiations.   They have access to information which is readily available. As parents our days are filled with work, sports and other activities.  We don’t have the time to research and review this information ourselves.

The teachers think we ignore their protests.  We witness their protests but we choose to ignore them because their actions are offensive.  With every protest our indignation grows: with every field trip the teachers have elected to miss, with the Halloween parade where the chosen costume was a red shirt, with all the school events where the teachers were absent, with the recommendation letters the teachers have either refused to write or have written the bare minimum , with all the mornings we have watched the teachers stand outside the school and march in together, with every mass exodus at the end of the day and with the countless other signs we noticed.

Now they are threatening to take our clubs away from our children.  They want us to react and so we will.  We will educate ourselves so that we as parents can make a decision.  The following facts collected from public sources should help us parents better understand the issues behind the contract negotiations:

FACTS:

Among the top 100 schools with the highest teacher salaries, Ridgewood is listed at #17.  https://patch.com/new-jersey/pointpleasant/these-100-nj-school-districts-pay-their-teachers-most… if this is the case, why are teachers saying they are underpaid?

The median teacher salary for Ridgewood is $78,318
https://www.nj.com/education/2016/04/whats_the_median_salary_for_teachers_in_your_district.html…If you compare this to the rest of Bergen County, we are very competitive.

There are teachers in our school system who make triple figure salaries.https://board-of-education.ridgewood.schoolfusion.us/modules/locker/files/get_group_file.phtml?gid=944840&fid=29038756&sessionid=c671c2e4ae1b4ddcb065cbe448f221ca
It is hard to believe there are elementary school librarians earning triple figures.
It should be noted that if there is a large number of teachers in the district who have been here a long time, this will shoot the median up as in any school district.

It is being said that by not giving the teachers what they want, we will force them to retire and we will lose good teachers.  It seems that some of the teachers who are paid well are very vocal yet they are the ones pushing the median up.  It also implies that the young teachers are not as good as the older ones because if the seasoned teachers leave we will be left with poor educators.

When compared to the private sector, the teachers’ salaries are competitive.

The private sector has a 40-hour work week for 48 weeks.  Teachers work 37.5 hours 37.5 weeks a year.

The teachers are guaranteed some type of a raise.  Private sector positions have received few to no raises over the past several years.

The argument that the raises don’t cover the increase the teachers have to contribute into health care is the same across all industries.

Private sector positions are paying the same if not more into their healthcare and get fewer benefits.

Teachers have a union that they pay $840 a year to fight for them.
https://www.njea.org/members/about-membership/njea%20membership%20categories

If the private sector employee is not in agreement with what they are receiving, they have to accept it or move on.

With all of this being said, we try to raise our children by example.  There are many good teachers in this community.  We want to support our teachers.  We all want what is fair, but the arguments that they are not treated fairly and are overworked and underpaid are no longer valid.

Many of these teachers are our friends and neighbors.  As parents we should be able to express our opinions.  The reason many people are afraid to speak up is due to the fact that we are put down and made to feel that our jobs are less important than that of a teacher’s.  Just because we entrust you with our children does not mean that you should be treated any better than the rest of us.

We try to teach our children by example. What example are you teaching them- that if I don’t get what I want, I will make sure I will use all my sick days;  that if I don’t get paid to start work until a certain time, I will stand outside until I am required to enter the building.  The fact is that we will be sending our children into the world soon. Our children will not survive in the private sector if they choose to follow the example set by their teachers.

Shame on you teachers for saying that you care about our children because if you did, you would have attended the field trips, you would have incorporated your red shirts into Halloween costumes, you would have put effort into the letters of recommendation and you would have continued to do what make you happy- teach.  Your recent actions, however, say otherwise.

To the parents- please read the information provided.  The teachers will get a contract, they will get their raises, they will contribute to their health care and we will all be back in the same situation in three years.

Know the facts and support our children.

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Ridgewood Board of Education to Vote on New Teachers Contract on Monday

Ridgewood EA teachers protest
June 3,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, After a long, drawn-out negotiations process between the village’s Board of Education (BOE) and the Ridgewood Education Association (REA) Ridgewood teachers may finally have a contract.

Ridgewood teachers have been working without a contract since June of 2015.The major hang up of the often heated discussions have been the teachers’ primary demand to reduce their healthcare premium contributions and the BOE’s reluctance to do so.

Joel M. Weisblatt, the state-appointed fact-finder, released his recommendations for an agreement between the sides on the evening of May 31.

The Ridgewood news is reporting that REA President Mike Yannone has told told them that his organization has accepted the recommendations of the fact-finder for a settlement, the BOE has not responded yet.

The Fact finder found :”The amount that teachers contribute to healthcare premiums will remain the same. Weisblatt explained there is an “absence of sufficient evidence” regarding the need to change the current structure, though he did recommend that teachers and secretaries who remain at the “top step” of the contribution level receive some compensation to defray the costs.”

For it’s part the BOE will discuss the report and recommendations at their Monday, June 6 board meeting. The members will then vote on whether to accept the recommendations or not.

“In accordance with New Jersey P.L. 2003, c. 126, the Board has made the May 16th Fact-finding Report and Recommendations public and has posted it to the District’s website.  At the June 6th Board of Education Public Meeting, the Board will discuss the report and the recommendations.  The Board will accept or reject the Fact-finder’s recommendations at that time. Click here to read the Fact Finders Report and Recommendations dated May 16, 2016..”

BOE Meets on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at BFMS Auditorium
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, June 6, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The Regular Public Meeting, originally scheduled to be held in the Board Room at the Education Center, will begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Auditorium at Benjamin Franklin Middle School.  Action will be taken at this meeting.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at BFMS or view it live via the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the  the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.

Click here to view the agenda and addendum for the May 16, 2016  Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the minutes of the May 2, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the 2016-2017 Budget presented at the May 2, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the Full Day Kindergarten Recommendation presented to the Board at their March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

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Reader asks Who Pays the Obamacare “Cadillac Tax” in 2020 for Ridgewood Municipal and School Employees?

Ridgewood Police

file photo by Boyd Loving

Reader asks ,please don’t forget the ACA excise taxes from 2020~…. that’s another 40% on platinum level health benefits like those our teachers, police and fire currently enjoy. They either all need to be downgraded to bronze level health benefits or taxpayers will bear the brunt of the 40% tax on $25,000 family plans, i.e. an additional $10,000 a year per Village and BOE employee with a platinum family plan. Who pays for that?

 

Ridgewood NJ, On December 18, 2015, Congress passed and the President signed a two-year delay of the 40 percent excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health plans, also known as the “Cadillac Tax.” This delay was part of a year-end government funding package and changes the effective date from 2018 to 2020. While the tax was originally non-tax deductible, the December 2015 changes make it tax deductible for employers who pay it.

No regulations have been issued to date. In February and July 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued notices covering a number of issues concerning the Cadillac Tax, and requested comments on the possible approaches that could ultimately be incorporated into proposed regulations.

What it is/fee duration Permanent, annual tax beginning in 2020 on high-cost employer-sponsored health coverage.
Purposes
  • Reduce tax preferred treatment of employer provided health care
  • Reduce excess health care spending by employees and employers
  • Help finance the expansion of health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Amount
  • The tax is 40% of the cost of health coverage that exceeds predetermined threshold amounts.
  • Cost of coverage includes the total contributions paid by both the employer and employees, but not cost-sharing amounts such as deductibles, coinsurance and copays when care is received.
  • For planning purposes, the thresholds for high-cost plans are currently $10,200 for individual coverage, and $27,500 for family coverage.
  • These thresholds will be updated before the tax takes effect in 2020 and indexed for inflation in future years.
  • The thresholds will also be increased:
    • If the majority of covered employees are engaged in specified high-risk professions such as law enforcement and construction, and
    • For group demographics including age and gender.
  • For pre-65 retirees and individuals in high-risk professions, the threshold amounts are currently $11,850 for individual coverage and $30,950 for family coverage. These amounts will also be indexed before the tax takes effect.
Who calculates and pays
  • Insured: Employers calculate and insurers pay
  • Self-funded: Employers calculate and “the person who administers the plan benefits” pays
  • HSAs and Archer MSAs: Employers calculate and employers pay
How a group health plan’s cost is determined
  • The tax is based on the total cost of each employee’s coverage above the threshold amount.
  • The cost includes contributions toward the cost of coverage made by employers and employees.
  • The statute states that costs of coverage will be calculated under rules similar to the rules for calculating COBRA premium.
How the tax will be paid Forms and instructions for paying the tax are not yet available.
Tax implications Based on the December 2015 changes, Cadillac Tax payments will be deductible for federal tax purposes.
Applicable types of coverage
  • Insured and self-insured group health plans (including behavioral, and prescription drug coverage)
  • Wellness programs that are group health plans (most wellness programs)
  • Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), employer and employee pre-tax contributions*
  • Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs)*
  • Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), all pre-tax contributions*
  • On-site medical clinics providing more than de minimis care*
  • Executive Physical Programs*
  • Pre-tax coverage for a specified disease or illness
  • Hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance
  • Federal/State/Local government-sponsored plans for its employees
  • Retiree coverage
  • Multi-employer (Taft-Hartley) plans

https://www.cigna.com/health-care-reform/cadillac-tax

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Ridgewood Board of Education and Superintendent to host a Coffee this Evening

Dan Fishbein 10
May 24,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Superintendent and Board Host Coffee and Conversation on May 24

Ridgewood NJ , The Board of Education and Superintendent will host residents for Coffee and Conversation on Tuesday, May 24. The public is invited to drop in at the Education Center at 49 Cottage Place, floor 3 between 7 and 8:30 p.m. to ask questions and share suggestions and concerns.

2016-2017 School Budget Information
Click here to view the 2016-2017 User Friendly Budget.
Click here to look at a 2016-2017 budget summary sheet.
Click here to view the latest information on the budget, updated on May 2, 2016.

Dr. Fishbein Recommends Full-day Kindergarten
On March 7, Dr. Fishbein presented a recommendation to the Board on bringing full-day Kindergarten to Ridgewood. His proposal is to fund a full-day program through a tax increase approved by voters this November in a second question. The consensus of the Board is to proceed with this recommendation.

Click here to read the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

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Readers Not Sympathetic to Ridgewood Teachers Demands

Ridgewood EA teachers protest

Sick and tired of hearing some the highest paid teachers in the State complain. Get a grip – the real world does not get automatic increases every year and in many case each year the contribution towards health insurance increases and coverage changes to economize. Let them strike and fire them. Lots of fresh new faces with lots of energy or teachers working in lower paying districts would love to have your jobs and be happy to work for a lot less

Teachers voted for Obamacare which is why health premiums are rising faster than wages. But now they want taxpayers to carry the extra cost so they can keep their Platinum health benefits? Give us all a break. Its great the REA can’t bully our BOE members as parents like they’ve done in the past with former BOE members. These are hard working volunteers trying to protect Ridgewood taxpayers from hostile and abusive REA/NJEA who has no interest in negotiating in good faith. They just want to keep screwing Ridgewood taxpayers as our school rankings keep declining. $102mn school budget for a town of 25,0000 and yet the REA wants more! This is abject greed.

NJEA and the REA is shameless trying to bully BOE members and their families. We can only guess the abuse the hard working volunteers have faced privately from the REA and NJEA thugs, and if they did have kids in the local schools what challenges that might present. If you don’t like your health benefit premiums, then downgrade to Bronze level coverage like the rest of us in the private sector. Remember, it was your union who supported Obamacare. So now accept that taxpayers are done subsidizing better health benefit plans for you elite teachers at everyone else’s expense. The rate of contribution is determined by your salary, simply the more money you make the more you are forced to contribute. Lower contribution levels don’t work for taxpayers, so suck it up like the rest of us and enjoy your paid summer vacation.