Point Pleasant Beach Schools Provide Update On Contract Talks

Point Pleasant Beach has provided an update on contract talks, saying some information has been "misleading."

For the past 10 months, the PPB Board of Education Negotiations Committee have engaged in negotiations for a new contract. The parties’ present agreement expired on June 30, 2018.

The association has taken the position publicly that teachers are “working without a contract”. Such statements are "exceedingly misleading," the district says.

Here is what the district is saying:

By operation of law, all benefits afforded to Association staff members, under the agreement, are guaranteed. Association members’ salary and benefits protection, as well as protection against termination without good cause, are in full force and effect. Therefore, according to New Jersey law, no teacher nor Association member has suffered a loss of pay and/or benefits during the period of time in which the parties have continued to try to reach an agreement.

Several months ago, after making no headway in negotiations with the Association, the Board invited Association leadership to meet with us with no attorney or NJEA representative present. The Board put forth several pathways for consideration in an attempt to promote compromise. We left that meeting feeling as if real progress had been made. However, we did not hear back from the Association and, to the Board’s surprise, on July 24 the Association advised it would file for impasse with the NJ Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). Once impasse is declared, PERC assigns a mediator to assist the parties in reaching a voluntary settlement. From the Board’s perspective, the major points at issue between the parties involved salary, employee health insurance contribution and an additional workday for teachers’ professional development. For reasons unknown to the Board, the Association did not file for impasse and, after waiting several months for the Association to respond, the Board directed its Labor Counsel to file for impasse in September to move the negotiations process along.

Because there are a limited number of PERC mediators available and scheduling can be difficult, the first opportunity to meet with the mediator did not happen until Wednesday, January 2, 2019. After the January 2nd session, the parties agreed to meet for a second mediation session; however, the first available date was not until March 11, 2019.

There is no prohibition for the parties to continue to attempt to reach an agreement, even in the event of a declared impasse. To that end, rather than wait until the March session, the Board directed its Labor Counsel to propose a settlement to the Association. In formulating its settlement offer, it is important to note that since 2017, the Association members’ health insurance contributions have not increased; any increase in health insurance costs have been borne entirely by the Board. In 2018, the District’s health insurance premiums increased by over 25%, and the Board at the negotiations table sought assistance from the Association to contribute to their health insurance at a rate consistent with the majority of school districts in the State and in Ocean County. The 25% increase translates to an approximate annual increase of $600,000 imposed on the Board.

To that end, on January 9th, approximately one week after the first mediation session concluded, the Board submitted a proposal that provided for an increase in salary for all staff at 2.5%, inclusive of increment; health insurance contributions consistent with what is commonly referred to as Tier 4 contributions from Association members, at a value which is consistent with the majority of school district employees in the State and in Ocean County.

The Association responded with a counter offer that called for a decrease of 20% in their contribution to their insurance premiums, as well as the introduction of health insurance for paraprofessionals, at an annual cost to the Board of approximately $36,500 per para for family coverage, which represents an annual increase of over $550,000.

Though the parties have different views at the negotiations table, from the Board of Education’s perspective, disagreement does not equate to disrespect or lack of appreciation for the Association’s contributions to the School District. Our teachers are the backbone of the success of our students and are very much appreciated by the Board. Contract negotiations are not, and should not become, personal matters. Board members – unpaid volunteers – should not be maligned as having “little concern for our children.”

The Board will continue to work hard through the collective bargaining process to reach an equitable settlement for both sides. The Board is exceedingly appreciative of the continued patience and understanding and support of the parents and community in this matter.