WINSLOW TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION
113 CENTRAL AVENUE
BLUE ANCHOR, NJ 08037
TELEPHONE. 609~561-4102
FAX: 609~561-8378
MICHAEL C. BIBB
President
November 5,1999
Dear Parents:
Since the opening of school in September, there have been many questions about the status of negotiations and its impact on children and the educational programs. The Board of Education and the WTEA (Winslow Township Education Association) are in the process of negotiating a new multi-year agreement. The Board of Education is as committed to reaching a settlement as the WTEA. As an informational update, here are the facts:
Members of the WTEA are all working under a contract issued with the same terms and conditions of the previously negotiated agreement. Every member continues to receive full salary and benefits as per the provisions of that agreement.
The Board and WTEA exchanged contract proposals on February 4,1999. Negotiation meetings were held as follows during the past six months: March 2, March 30, April 22, May 25, June 8 and on June 16, 1999. Impasse was declared at this point and both sides determined that a neutral mediation process was required to move negotiations forward. An August mediation session was attempted by the Board. The WTEA negotiations team, comprised of approximately seventeen members, was unable to meet in August because many of their members were on summer break /Vacation. Additional dates of September 14,16, 22 and 28 were available with the mediator, but due to conflicts on both sides, no sessions were conducted.
The Board of Education and the WTEA had agreed to meet with a mediator on October 13,1999 at 7:00
p.m. Unfortunately, the mediator was more than two hours late for that meeting. The Board of Education team left at approximately 9:00 p.m. It was proposed and agreed by both parties to meet again on Tuesday, November 9, 1999. This date is confirmed and the Board's negotiation team is prepared to mediate next Tuesday evening with a mediator.
The WTEA advised the Board of its decision to suspend after school activities for students until they are able to negotiate a new agreement. Although the Board does not support this action, it acknowledges the Association's right not to work beyond the school day.
The Board and the WTEA are not legally permitted to publicly negotiate, but it is the Board's desire to keep the Winslow School community informed of the status of negotiations from this point forward. The Board's negotiation team includes two Board Members, Doreen Crowley and Janice Pizzuto; Business Administrator, J. Chris Oberg; Superintendent of Schools, Lawrence A. Hobdell; and its negotiator, Alan Schmoll, a total of five members.
In closing, the Board of Education has not lost sight of its responsibilities to the Winslow Township community. We continue to strive for educational excellence at a reasonable, manageable cost to taxpayers.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Bibb
Board of Education President
MCBIddh
