Boycott Leads to Cancellation of Colts Neck Back-to-School Nights

Updated: Below are also comments from an interview with Interim Superintendent John Paredes. 

Colts Neck parents will be without a district Back-to-School Night, which was canceled due to contract negotiations with teachers.

The teacher’s union, New Jersey Education Association, is said to have told teachers not to attend the events.

Events scheduled at the three schools in the district for Sept. 15, Sept. 20 and Sept. 22 were canceled. A news release from assembly republicans said the events were canceled last week because teachers were ordered by the union not to participate.

A news release from the Colts Neck Board of Education said, “The association has decided to boycott the opportunity to meet you and discuss your child’s upcoming school year.”

The NJEA could not be reached for comment in time for the publication of this article.

Interim Superintendent John Paredes said the negotiations have been going on since before he came into the position.

"I don't expect this will end in an agreement anytime soon," he said.

The current teacher contract ended June 30, however it will extend until a new agreement is reached. The teachers are not currently working without a contract.

“The contract negotiations have gone through the process between the parties of mutual discussions, we have also jointly followed for impasse, we have met with a mediator once, and we are going through the next stage of the process which is called fact finding," he said.

Administrators within the district met with union representatives last week, in what they thought was a productive meeting. 

In a news release, Paredes said, “It is unfortunate that, given the opportunity, the association membership decided not even to entertain the collaborative resolution that was reached with their elected representatives.”

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande said in a news release, “Many parents in our community are rightfully upset that they won’t get to meet their children’s teachers at Back-to-School Night. Parents and schoolchildren deserve a Back-to-School Night and no matter their contractual status, the teachers union should not hurt students as part of a negotiating tactic.”

Patch is following this story and will update with more information.