West Deptford Teachers Holding Off Ratification Until September

likely won't be ratified before the start of the school year, WDEA representatives said Monday.

The delay comes over concerns about being able to get the entire membership together ahead of the first scheduled WDEA meeting of the school year at the beginning of September, given vacation schedules and summer work timetables.

While there was some consideration given to sending out the details via email or holding an early meeting, union officials said they wanted to wait and be sure everyone could get the contract information all at once.

“We didn't want to rush ahead with it,” WDEA past president Denise Verenault said.

School board President Christopher Strano had said he and the board hoped to vote on the deal in August, but won't be able to do so before the union ratifies the deal. The school board has a pair of meetings scheduled soon after the first week of school, one on Sept. 12 and another Sept. 26.

Final details of the tentative contract won't be released until after it's approved by both the union and school board. The school board rejected that was made public a month ago, which would've called for a three-year deal with an average salary increase of two percent, a proposal the WDEA said they supported.

The school year begins Sept. 6 for teachers, with a pair of in-service days before students return to classes Sept. 8.