Board Meeting Draws Several Hundred

The cafeteria was a sea of red for Wednesday night's Board of Education meeting.

Teachers and staff, in their red union T-shirts, packed the room as nearly 400 people were in attendance for the last board meeting before school ends on June 16. The board is next scheduled to meet on June 21.

“It will be a full year at the end of this month that the MEA does not have a contract,” said Moorestown Education Association Lisa Trapani. “This is unprecedented in Moorestown. We have followed the process and presented the facts at the fact-finding hearing on May 17.”

It was the first time since the fact-finding meeting the MEA and board spokeswoman Linda Alexandroff commented on the state of negotiations.

The teachers’ contract ended June 30, 2010. Negotiations began in February 2010, but an agreement has not been reached.

“The critical goals of the Board of Education throughout the negotiations process has been to maintain the integrity of the educational system and to retain as many positions and programs as possible,” Alexandroff said. “We seek a fair and reasonable settlement with the MEA. Having completed the formal fact-finding hearing, we remain committed to the process and await the fact-finders report.”

A written report of the facts and recommended terms of a settlement will be submitted to both parties and the director of conciliation. Fact-finding is not binding. The fact-finder’s report could take several months to be completed.

“I am tired and frustrated with the whole situation,” said Maura Rafferty. “As a parent, as a taxpayer and as a volunteer. “Lines have been drawn. It is time to get off your lines, get to the middle and solve this.”

According to Alexandroff, the board and the union remain millions of dollars apart.

“It is not about affordability, which is what the BOE has said repeatedly to us and to the community, but instead, it is about the willingness to settle,” said Trapani.

More than a dozen speakers voiced their concerns about not only contract negotiations, but also outsourcing of the district employees.

Several members of the transportation staff and a group of paraprofessionals spoke about their concerns that their jobs would be outsourced to save the district money.

“I want to urge the board to reconsider outsourcing the aides,” Rich Bendel said. Bendel spoke about the personal attention and above and beyond dedication his son’s aide has demonstrated throughout the years.

Non-contractual employees were sent notice of non-renewal letters in May stating that the board would not be offering those employees employment for the 2011-12 school year. However, Board President Don Mishler said he believed the board will hire the “vast majority” back by the end of the school year.

“There is no current plan to outsource paraprofessionals or bus drivers,” said Mishler. “We have made no decisions.”

Concerns over outsourcing were outweighed only by concerns that the negotiations would continue to drag on into the summer.

“I would like to thank the Board of Education; I support the board and I supported the budget,” said Sheree Lantz, a Moorestown resident. “The time has now come to reach a settlement with the MEA and it needs to be done before the end of the school year.”

“The MEA remains available to meet with the BOE before school year ends to reach a settlement so that we can all have an enjoyable summer and return ready to start the school year in September,” said Trapani.