Ho-Ho-Kus March 9, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Board inks three-year agreement with association by Jennifer Crusco Just over two years after contract talks began, the Ho-Ho-Kus Board of Education and the Ho-Ho-Kus Education Association have come to an agreement on a new, threeyear agreement. The contract, which was ratified by the association late last month and officially adopted by the board of education last week, calls for pay raises of 3.4 percent for 2009-10, 2.28 percent for 201011, and 1.52 percent for 2011-12. The association is comprised of the district’s teachers, custodians, and all certified staff members, including the child study team, nurses, and the counselor. Superintendent Deborah Ferrara noted that the increase is 7.2 percent over the three-year period, but will amount to just over 4 percent, as the teachers will be contributing 1.5 percent of their salaries toward health care benefits during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic years. Contributions will be retroactive to May 2010. The negotiations also resulted in increased instructional time, and a one-year freeze on tuition reimbursement. Ferrara called the increase in instructional time a very big positive. She explained that instructional time will be increased by 40 minutes a week. That time will be taken from preparation time, and will be significant in terms of scheduling, the superintendent said. The tuition reimbursement freeze will save the district $20,000, Ferrara added. “The board really did work to be fiscally responsible,” she continued. “It was a very protracted negotiation process for everyone. We’re ready to leave it behind us and get back to doing what we do best: educating children.” School Board President Ellen Marie Walsh said, “It is the belief of the board that this settlement is reflective of the economic times and is fiscally responsible, which was the board’s major goal throughout the negotiations. The board holds its employees in high regard and wishes to make it clear that the lengthy negotiations should not be seen as anything other than a steadfast concern about maintaining a fiscally responsible budget. Finally, on behalf of the board, I wish to thank all of you for your patience during this protracted process.” The teachers and the board had begun contract negotiations in January 2009 in anticipation of the June 30, 2009 expiration of the prior contract agreement. The school district previously reported that talks had resulted in a memorandum of agreement jointly signed by the parties’ negotiators in May 2009, but a majority of the HEA members did not ratify the terms of that proposal. No details concerning the 2009 memorandum were released. The association and the board held three meetings with state-appointed mediator Kathleen Vogt, but were still unable to reach an agreement. Negotiations reached the fact-finding stage in February 2010. At that time, the New Jersey Public Employee Relations Commission presented the association and the board with a list of three fact-finders’ names. PERC subsequently appointed Timothy Hundley to handle the district’s case and make a non-binding recommendation. Walsh noted that the board and the association never held the fact-finding hearing that was scheduled for December 2010. “We had a date, and that date was adjourned. Then both parties really pushed to settle,” Walsh said. The Woman’s Club of Ho-Ho-Kus will host its annual Spring Dessert Card Party fundraiser on April 8. This event will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Waldwick United Methodist Church at 25 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick. Homemade desserts, coffee and tea, and special prize baskets will be featured. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling (201) 444-9389. On March 7, puppeteer and children’s books author, Carole Ford Dobeck will address the group at its noon meeting. The session will be held at Saint Bartholomew’s Club plans Dessert Card Party Church Hall, 70 Sheridan Avenue in HoHo-Kus. The April 4 meeting will feature Josen Cianello’s tips for growing, storing, and using herbs. Members of the public are invited to these programs. Call (201) 652-2236. The Woman’s Club of Ho-Ho-Kus is a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs. Member clubs are working to helping those who are fighting cancer. The Woman’s Club of Ho-Ho-Kus is supporting Gilda’s Club in Hackensack. �������������������������������������������������