An Important Negotiations Reminder to Business Administrators

NJSBA Announces Sale of Northern Field Office

NJSBA Board of Directors to Meet

Audit Questions DOE Oversight

School Violence Edges Up Slightly

Obituary: Wesley Lance, an Author of New Jersey’s Constitution

Obituary: Dr. Boyle, Somerset ESC Superintendent

NJSBA on the Air

Workshop 2007—Ethics Do’s and Don’ts

Calendar

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As schools reopen this week, approximately 117 New Jersey school districts remain in contract negotiations, according to 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 Jersey’s 593 operating school districts returned to the bargaining table to negotiate new teacher contracts. Of those, more than 56 percent remain in negotiations. Last year, 62 percent of the 193 school districts negotiating new contracts were still bargaining as the school year approached.

“Until a new pact is reached, teachers are covered by the provisions in their old contracts,” said 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 ‘work without a contract.’ ”

Historically, many teacher contracts are resolved in the fall.

Salary Increases The average statewide salary increase for all contracts covering the 2007-2008 school year is 4.60 percent.  Average raises vary by county, as well as by the contract settlement dates.  For example, the average increase for the most recent quarter is 4.52 percent, which reflects a general downward trend in settlement rates. Last year, the statewide average salary increase was 4.65 percent and salary increases in 2005-2006 averaged 4.7 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,” which ensures that 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 instructional time, or more days for teacher training.