Midland Park April 7, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 The Midland Park Board of Education has negotiated an agreement with the Midland Park Education Association (MPEA) which freezes salaries for the 2010-11 school year at 2009-10 levels. The MPEA represents about 150 teaching, secretarial/ clerical and custodial/maintenance staff in the school district. “I thank the MPEA for offering a salary freeze before the state put its hammer down and encouraged it,” said trustee Wayne Roberts, who headed the negotiations for the board. Superintendent of Schools William Hee- Teachers’ union foregoes 2010-11 pay raises bink said that the administrative staff had “also accepted a hold on salaries. “I’m proud of this district. The employees stepped up and came together to help the children, to help the taxpayers,” said Board President Rich Venditti. The new three-year agreement provides a zero increase for the first year of the contract and 2 ½ percent increases for each of the next two years. However, if changes in state law require the membership to contribute 1.5 percent of their salary towards health care benefits, and that 1.5 percent comes back to the district unencumbered either by reducing the tax levy cap or stipulating specific use of the funds, then half of that 1.5 percent, or .75 percent, would go toward the settlement rate, explained Roberts. In that case, the salary increase for years two and three would be 3.25 percent. “This is due to the fact that there is significant clarification required from the state around this 1.5 percent contribution to health care,” Roberts added. Association members do have the potential to get a one-time additional payment next school year by sharing in the breakage savings the district may realize through retirements. Breakage is the difference between the higher salary of an employee who is retiring and that of the staff member that replaces him or her. The breakage amount, which will be capped at a $70,000 total distribution, would consist of a one-time equal distribu- NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN CONTEMPORARY VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT tion payout among all members and would not be applied to the base on the guide. Only breakage that is identified between July 1, 2010 and Feb 1, 2011 that positively impacts the 2010-2011 budget year would be considered. The agreement also caps sick leave buyout at $10,000 for employees hired after 2000, $12,500 if hired before 2000, and $15000 for employees hired before 1990. This $10,000 cap is below the recent state mandated $15,000 cap. The contract also contains a payout scale that pays out a lower percentage on the first 200 sick days accumulated and a higher payout for accumulated days over 200. The new contract also places additional restrictions on the accumulation of credits beyond the master’s degree. Henceforth, only courses taken in the direct field of (continued on page 8) 265 Ackerman Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 201 791 9339 www.chubackveins.com 3-24-10 janine FashionDesignWorkshop3x3Color(3-24-10) 3 x 3” Offer includes exam, dental cleaning and complete digital x-rays. Expires 4/30/2010. Offer cannot be combined Offer includes custom whitening trays and a 6-week supply of whitening gel. Expires 4/30/2010. Offer cannot be combined. www.mkdmd.com