Ridgewood Teachers, School District Reach Contract Agreement

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The teachers' union and the Board of Education have settled their contact dispute after months of negotiations.

The Board of Education's Negotiations Committee and the Ridgewood Education Association agreed to a memorandum of agreement for a three-year contact. The contract would be retroactive from July 2018 and end in June 2020, Superintendent Daniel Fishbein said in a letter to the community Wednesday.

The board and union must finalize the salary guides before they vote on the agreement, Fishbein said.

The terms and conditions of the agreement will be made public after both sides ratify the contract, he said.

Salaries and health insurance premiums were the sticking point regarding that contract.

The union has more than 500 members. For the third time in four years, they started the school year working under an expired contract. The previous contract, which expired July 1, was agreed to about two years ago and gave teachers an annual salary of $78,500 for the 2016-17 school year. (Related: Ridgewood Teachers Union, Board Of Education Reach 'Tentative' Agreement)

The union held a "walk-in" the day before school started as a sign of solidarity. Union President Michael Yannone previously said members were asked to give a complete history of doctors visits, medical procedures, and medications taken by members and their families, which would then be given to a third party.

Board of Education President Vincent Loncto said officials want to find another, cheaper alternative to the insurance plan the union has now, NorthJersey.com reported.

A state-appointed fact finder entered negotiations Tuesday.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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