Franklin Lakes November 3, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Agreement gives K-8 teachers 3.5 percent raise by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes K-8 Board of Education and the Franklin Lakes Education Association have announced a two-year contract agreement that will provide 3.5 percent salary increases in both years. FLEA represents the teachers, instructional aides, secretaries, and other non-managerial employees in the school district. The new agreement will cover the period from July 1, 2009, when the last contract expired, through June 30, 2011. Negotiations for a new contract began in January 2009. According to Superintendent Frank Romano, the comprehensive agreement deals with many of the issues that were identified as priorities by both the board and the association at the outset of negotiations. The agreement provides for a change in health insurance plans to the state’s School Employees Health Benefits Program. Romano pointed out that the savings produced through the change in health insurance plans, together with the employees’ state mandated obligation to contribute 1.5 percent of their annual base salaries towards the cost of health insurance coverage, enabled the school board to provide salary increases of 3.5 percent in both years of the agreement. The two parties also reached an agreement on many other items, including scheduling issues, tuition reimbursement, planning periods, and student supervision. According to the school district’s business administrator, Michael Solokas, the agreement was reached at a mutually scheduled meeting during the summer and not as a result of the efforts of fact-finders or mediators. But the details of the agreement were not released until FLEA members ratified the agreement last week. The school board was expected to ratify the agreement at a public meeting this week. School Board President Kathie Schwartz said, “We are very happy that FLEA ratified the agreement and that we can put the past two years behind us and move forward with our core mission: to educate the children of Franklin Lakes.” Schwartz acknowledged the need for an almost immediate start to negotiations for a new contract starting June 30, 2011, but she emphasized that both parties agreed to a two-year contract. “Due to the economic uncertainty at the time, the memorandum of understanding was struck in June 2010,” Schwartz explained. “Both parties were comfortable with a shorter term contract which would give both sides the opportunity to reflect on current events and recent legislation relating to state budget cuts to education and the pending appeal of state employees of the health care contribution requirement. “We are happy to have this round of negotiations behind us, and we are ready to go back to the table very soon to begin to talk about the successor agreement which will take effect in July 2011. As we enter the next round of negotiations, we will take into account the current events at the state level and how they affect our schools.” Schwartz was asked how the board justified a 3.5 percent salary increase in such a poor economy. Schwartz responded, “You have to look at the settlement in the context of the extensive time frame upon which the contract was negotiated. Negotiations began in January 2009 for the contract that was to begin July 1, 2009 and the contract was determined by the economic conditions of the last three years, not necessarily current conditions. “At the beginning of that period, the association was seeking increases well over the final settlement of 3.5 percent. Also, during the time of the negotiations process Governor Christie imposed a mandatory health care contribution of 1.5 percent of employee salaries. So in effect, the contract settlement provides for only a two percent increase in take home pay.” Schwartz also pointed out that, as part of the contract settlement, FLEA agreed to move to a new health care plan, which saved the district a substantial sum of money and it requires the staff to pay for more of their health care costs. In addition, Schwartz explained that the board obtained productivity increases that included additional teaching time and flexibility in scheduling that will yield further financial savings. “After factoring in the salary increase, the mandated employee health care contribution, the health insurance savings and productivity increases, the total impact of the contract is a net savings to the district taxpayers,” Schwartz said. “We value our staff and want to ensure that Franklin Lakes can continue to offer outstanding educational opportunities for its students while maintaining competitive salary and benefits to attract and maintain talented employees. “We feel this contract was very fair to both our employees and our taxpayers,” Schwartz concluded, “and we will continue to do our best to reduce costs while maintaining a top notch school district in New Jersey.” Paul Banach Construction, LLC Home Remodeling Waldwick • 201-689-0765 • Windows • Doors • Garage Doors • • Finish Carpentry • Crown Moldings, Cabinetry, Walk-In-Closets, etc... • Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations • Take advantage of the Energy Tax Credit in 2010 www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits Speak to your tax advisor to ascertain if you qualify, as these credits will make a project more economical for you! 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