Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • July 28, 2010 Franklin Lakes Teachers and administrators set agreements by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes K-8 Board of Education and the Franklin Lakes Education Association (FLEA) and the Franklin Lakes Administrators’ Association have reached tentative agreements on new contracts. Those agreements are awaiting ratification by all parties involved. FLEA represents the teachers, instructional aides, secretaries, and other non-managerial employees in the school district. The administrators’ association represents six administrative positions which include the supervisor of special services, the middle school principal and assistant principal, and the elementary school principals. The administrators and the board of education are currently reviewing the final contract language and double checking the numbers, and they are expected to ratify the agreement in the near future. But the ratification of the agreement with FLEA will not occur before September when the members of FLEA return to work for the new school year. Officials on all sides have stated that the terms of the tentative agreements must remain confidential until those ratifications occur. But the school district’s business administrator, Michael Solokas, did advise that the agreements were reached at a mutually scheduled meeting and not as a result of the efforts of fact-finders or mediators. Superintendent Dr. Frank Romano voiced his satisfaction that the contracts appear to have been settled. He acknowledged that even the best of negotiations create a trying and difficult time because people must “open themselves up raw” and it is trying and stressful even in a win-win situation. He confirmed that the administrators are expected to ratify their contract before the beginning of the new school year and the school district will be starting the new school year with a tentative agreement with the teachers. “I feel extremely positive and extremely hopeful and extremely thankful to both sides,” Romano said, acknowledging that the negotiations placed a dark cloud over the district. “I saw wonderful things happening and I can only imagine what it would be like without that dark cloud. Imagine the potential.” The previous contract between the school board and the association expired on June 30, 2009, and negotiations for a new contract have been ongoing since January 2009. Last February, a hearing before a fact-finder was intended to permit the board and the teachers’ association to submit their final offers with any evidence demonstrating the fairness of their respective positions. But the informal meeting of the board of education and the FLEA with the fact-finder produced no results in bringing the two sides together in their negotiations for a new contract for the teachers. Solokas advised at the time that both sides were restricted by the fact-finder from discussing the meeting publicly except to say that the fact-finder was unable to bring the parties to a negotiated settlement, and the negotiations were to move to a formal fact-finding process. Helpful Hints Helpful Hints from ome “Replacing an older toilet with a new water-saving model can conserve 12,000 gallons of water a year in the average household”. 27 Franklin Tpk, Waldwick Open Sundays 9-3 201-652-5666 Billy Says... The two points of contention in the negotiations at that time were the health plan coverage for the members of the association in the future, and salary increases for FLEA members. The board of education implemented a change in the health benefits plan for the FLEA from the Horizon Direct Access Plan to the state’s School Employee Health Benefits Program that was effective Dec. 1, 2009. But late last year, the Public Employment Relations Commission ruled that the board of education could not unilaterally decide to implement a change in the health benefits plan for FLEA without setting up a fund to reimburse FLEA members for their out-of-pocket costs associated with going to out-ofnetwork health care providers. FLEA asked PERC to grant an injunction prohibiting the board from switching health benefits plans, but the PERC ruling allowed the school board to make the switch in health plans if the reimbursement fund was established. All employees were switched to coverage by the state plan on Dec. 1, but Solokas said the requirement to set up a reimbursement fund was expected to reduce the savings the district had hoped to achieve with the switch in health plans. He said at the time that the potential savings from the change in health plans with the reimbursement requirement was difficult to predict, but the other towns that have set up special funds for this purpose are still realizing significant savings in their health plan costs. The school board’s health insurance consultant had projected increases in health benefits premiums under the current plan to exceed 35 percent, or more than $1,000,000, in each of the next two years. The school board had claimed the change in health plans would provide the school district with the additional cost savings needed to preserve the current educational program while providing the employees with substantially equivalent health benefits. Wipers Streaking? Change Them Now! Allergies? Change The Cabin Air Filter! PROFESSIONAL Save Your Money! Maintain Your Car! TIRE & AUTO SERVICE Offering All Services for Most Vehicles Make Your Appointment Online service@richtersauto.com All Major Brand Tires Available 209 S. Maple Ave. Ridgewood www.richtersauto.com 201-652-4818 OF $100 OR MORE Excluding Tires & Sublet Work w/Coupon • Exp. 8/31/10 • not combinable ANY SERVICE 10% OFF! TAKE Waldwick Chamber of Commerce Waldwick Day Serving All Your Air Conditioning & Heating Needs Prompt, Reliable Service You Can Depend On, Plus The Personal Attention You Deserve. • Oil & Gas Heat Systems Serviced & Installed • Automatic Fuel Oil Deliveries • Tank Insurance Available 24 Hour Air 7-28-10 kathy/janine 7th Annual RichtersCoupon2x2(7-28-10) 2 x 2” rev1 Sunday, September 25 – 12-4 pm Borough Park (Raindate: Sunday, September 26) MERCHANT REGISTRATION DUE AUGUST 15, 2010 Reservation Forms & Rules Available At: www.waldwickchamberofcommerce.com it n tion ConsdInsiollaing ta , Sale & Service ����������������������� 201-891-1000 Emergency Service For Information, Call Kim Post, Chamber Secretary, 201-693-6734