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CONTACT:        Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org)                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                        Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
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Teacher Contract Negotiations Continue in 122 School Districts

TRENTON, August 28, 2007 - As the start of a new school year approaches, approximately 122 New Jersey school districts remain in contract negotiations, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA).

"The number of school districts still at the bargaining table is common for this time of year, and the negotiations should not affect the opening of schools," said Kevin E. Ciak, NJSBA president.

This year, 208 of New Jerseys 593 operating school districts returned to the bargaining table to negotiate new teacher contracts. Of those, nearly 59 percent remain in negotiationsa figure that is not uncommon at this time of year.

Last year at this time, for instance, 62 percent of the 193 school districts negotiating new contracts in New Jersey were still at the bargaining table.

"Until a new pact is reached, teachers are covered by the provisions in their old contracts," noted Ciak. "All of their salaries, benefits and other employment protections remain in effect which is why we note that public school teachers in New Jersey never truly 'work without a contract.' "

Historically, many teacher contracts are resolved in the fall.

Salary Increases The average salary increase for contracts covering the 2007-2008 school year is 4.60 percent, slightly less than the average increase of 4.65 percent last year and 4.7 percent in 2005, according to NJSBA data. The rate is far below the statewide figures during the early 1990s, when average raises exceeded 9 percent.

Controlling Costs Controlling the cost of fringe benefits, especially health insurance, remains at the top of the list of issues at the bargaining table. This year, 50 percent of the new teacher contracts contain clauses to control rising costs of health benefits, according to NJSBA.

Some of the methods used to control health insurance include waiver incentives, employee contributions, tiered plans, increasing prescription co-pays.

Other Trends Other issues at the bargaining table this year involve addressing staffing needs, restrictions on tuition reimbursement, and lengthening the school day and school year.

• Salary structure: School boards are negotiating with unions over construction of salary guides, which determine how pay raises are distributed. "Many New Jersey districts continue to face growing enrollments, coupled with teacher retirements," Ciak said. "In response, school boards are working to offer more competitive salaries to attract entry-level staff – and to retain those teachers after they are hired."


• Restrictions on tuition reimbursement: NJSBA also reports that more school districts are achieving limits on tuition reimbursement. Some contracts require a “return service obligation” that ensures taxpayers recoup their investment by linking tuition reimbursement to a teacher’s continued employment in the district for a specified amount of time. Other teacher pacts include new or more stringent caps on the total amount provided for tuition reimbursement or for the amount paid per staff member.


• Longer school days and school year: Approximately a quarter of the 2007-2008 contracts contain provisions for longer school days or longer school years, NJSBA research indicates. These provisions can yield more student instruction time, or more days for teacher training.

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The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.