No New Contract Leads to Teacher Protests at West Morris High Schools

Teachers in the West Morris Regional High School District protested Friday morning in an effort to let the community know about ongoing contract negotiations that seem to be in a stalemate.

Members of the Teachers Association, which includes educators from Mendham High School and West Morris Central, took to the outside of their respective school buildings from 7 to 7:20 a.m. to protest the lag in ongoing contract negotiations between the union and board of education.

Approximately 75 teachers joined the protest outside West Morris Central High School, according to Teachers Association President Joyce Hartmann, who also teaches at the school.

The association has been without a contract since June 30, 2013. The contract was a four-year pact, but one that wasn’t resolved until two years into the negotiations.

“The board’s (current) proposals are not realistic,” Hartmann said. A fact-finding meeting took place on Nov. 25, but a new meeting between both sides isn’t scheduled until mid-February, Hartmann said.

Both sides are able to meet before then, but it’s unlikely any solutions will result.

“The protest was so the community could see and be made aware of what’s going on here,” Hartmann said. “The Teachers Association is planning further actions as well.”

An ever-changing school board may find more consistency come January after the November elections saw newcomer Rob Strobel oust Mendham Township representative James Button. In the two board meetings scheduled since the election, Button has not been present at either.

The protests come just four days after Mendham High School had an enhanced police presence Monday when a written threat was found inside the building on Friday, Dec. 5. A 15-year-old male was later charged with creating a false public alarm.

The district, despite the lack of teacher contracts, received a bevy of accolades in 2014 from various publications that conduct school rankings. In New Jersey Monthly Magazine’s bi-annual report, Mendham was ranked No. 4 in the state, followed by Central at No. 11. Newsweek also ranked Mendham High School No. 81 overall in the country.

The next scheduled meeting of the West Morris Regional Board of Education is set for Monday, Jan. 5.

Pictured: Teachers protest outside West Morris Central High School Friday, Dec. 12. Photo Courtesy West Morris Regional Teachers Association.