BOE Member Stands Up for Paraprofessionals

The subject of a contract for paraprofessionals arose at Tuesday night's marathon Board of Education meeting. By the gathering's end—at about 1 a.m.—the impasse between the district and school support workers was no closer to a resolution.

Board member Anthony Mancuso made a motion to accept a report by a fact-finder tasked with formulating a compromise between the board and the Parsippany-Troy Hills Educational Support Association, the union representing paraprofessionals. 

Member Deborah Orme seconded the motion, but only for the purpose of discussing the matter, she said.

The fact-finder recommended two three-year contracts that would give teacher's aides and assistants 3 percent raises covering the school years 2007-08 and 2008-09, 2 percent raises for 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2012-13, and no raise at all in 2010-11. In addition, paraprofessionals would continue to be excluded from getting the health care benefits other school employees receive.

The paraprofessionals, who have gone more than four years without a contract (and in fact have never had a contract during the four years of its union's existence), decided to accept the fact finder's report.

Michelle Tobias, a paraprofessional at Littleton Elementary School, said that she and her colleagues are reluctantly accepting the report, which gives school support staff much less than they wanted, in the interest of finally reaching a settlement with the board. 

Mancuso argued that the paraprofessionals have waited for a contract for a long time and deserve one. 

"They have given us excellent service without interruption. They are some of the lowest-paid workers in the school district," he noted. "The paraprofessionals voted to accept the fact finder's report as presented."

He said that since the proposed salary increases are modest and that health care benefits are not part of the recommendation, he wanted to approve the report and bring the ongoing dispute to an end.

Deborah Orme asked if Mancuso would be willing to table the motion to allow the board an opportunity to "pursue negotiation options" and to discuss the matter behind closed doors. (State law mandates that negotiations be confidential.)

Mancuso declined, saying that the board could still discuss the matter even if a vote took place.

Member Fran Orthwein spoke against taking a vote.

"The message sent may not be one that board members want to send," she said, noting that she has not made any decision regarding the paraprofessionals. "I don't feel we've discussed the matter in enough detail or considered alternative solutions. We've never really discussed it, and now we're being put on the spot and asked to vote before the public, the people here."

Mancuso said he did not intend to put anyone on the spot.

"My goal here is to put an end to the matter and move forward," he said.

"I don't feel as a board that we should entertain a motion," Orthwein continued. "We would be derelict in our duty to do so without a real discussion."

Mancuso argued that each board member has had the fact finder's report in his or her possession and has had the opportunity to read and understand it.

"We just formed a committee under Dr. Calabria's leadership," Orme said. "I ask for time to give the committee time to do its job. A vote tonight might send an unintended message." 

After asking Board President Frank Calabria if she could rescind her second of Mancuso's motion and being told that protocol allowed it, Orme pulled her second, thereby stopping any vote.

Calabria informed those assembled that the discussion of the fact finder's report would remain within the minutes of the meeting.

Later in the meeting, five separate paraprofessionals took advantage of the public comment portion of the gathering to let President Calabria know that they are frustrated with waiting for a contract. 

Calabria told the paraprofessionals that he respected them and that talks will continue. 

The school workers weren't buying that statement.

Paraprofessional Karen Blunt spoke for her colleagues.

"To say that I am extremely disappointed is an understatement," she said. "Even over the nearly five years we have been denied a contract and respect, we have never let the students down.

"Do we feel you have let us down?" Blunt asked the board members. "Absolutely.

"Please do what is important. Do what is right," she said.