Bridgewater-Raritan Agree on Teacher Contract, Plan to Add School Day to Calendar

Bridgewater, NJ -- A teacher contract has finally been settled.

The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Board of Education announced the ratified agreement at their last meeting on April 26.

"We firmly believe this agreement is beneficial to both parties involved," said BOE president Ann Marie Mead.

The contract, which was unanimously voted yes upon by board members, will give the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Associationa salary increase of 3.25% for year 1, 2.95% for year 2 and 2.85% for year 3.

Athletic, curricular, co-curricular and clothing stipends will increase 2% per year for each year of the contract.

A change was made to the base health insurance plan which results in a more cost effective option now and in the future, Mead said.

The BREA will move to Aetna15 starting in year 2 of contract which is June of this year. Health insurance contributions will remain at tier 4 of chapter 78.

"I would like to echo the sentiments Ann Marie expressed," said Steve Beady, BREA President at the meeting. "On behalf of my team I would like to thank the BREA, board, administration for all of their hard work and effort that they put into this negotiation effort. Thank you."

• Added school day

Lastly one more school day will also be added to the school calendar as part of the new contract.

"While finances are incredibly important, this item I am most proud of," Mead said. "I truly believe every student needs are benefited from more instructional time, so we will go from 180 to 181 days."

The added instructional teaching day will be implemented to the 2016-2017 school year.

The board started discussing options, or potential modifications, to the calendar but no decisions were made. The board will review them again during the May 10 meeting.

The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, May 10 at 8 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Harmon V. Wade Administration Building, 836 Newmans Lane, Bridgewater.