Northern Valley Educators, Board Entering Mediation On Contract Impasse

Northern Valley Education Association members picket outside of the Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan on Jan. 23 before classes begin. | Photo by Murray Bass

DEMAREST, N.J.—The union representing Northern Valley Regional High School District’s educational staff said it is meeting with board of education negotiators and a state-appointed mediator Feb. 27 in an attempt to resolve an ongoing contract impasse.

Lisa Veit, Northern Valley Education Association president, told Northern Valley Press Jan. 24 that the two top sticking points include increasing yearly teacher contributions to health insurance and pension costs—imposed by a state law signed in 2011 by former Gov. Chris Christie—and salary increases to compensate teachers for the mandated contributions. The previous three-year contract expired in July.

The ongoing impasse has led to teachers on picket lines at district high schools in Old Tappan and Demarest, and NVEA members will again rally ahead of the meeting at 4 p.m. Feb. 27, the organization said.

“We are trying not to be aggressive but to get the information out to parents and the community about the impasse,” Veit said in January, speaking to Northern Valley Press.

Teacher picket lines have not interfered with any school activities or teaching, Veit said, noting teachers marched before classes began.

In a letter to Northern Valley Press, Veit pointed to Public Law 2011, Chapter 78 which “implemented mandatory insurance deductions for school employees while also increasing our pension contributions,” she wrote.

“Despite receiving an increase in salary, under Chapter 78, we each saw significant reductions in our take-home pay. As you might imagine, this has created a host of problems for the staff, many of whom have had to take on a second job during the school year. Teaching in a high-performing school district is stressful in and of itself, and there is no pedagogical advantage to be gained from a teacher who has to work a second job while school is in session,” Veit wrote.

However, Northern Valley Regional District Board of Education President Joseph Argenziano said that “Veit appears to be tone deaf in commenting that the reductions in take home pay are so significant that they have had to take on second jobs to survive. As NVEA members are the highest paid teachers in the State of New Jersey, these statements do a disservice to her membership and are an insult to the teachers in the other 690 school districts in the state that earn a fraction of what the NVEA does.”

Argenziano said the board considers the teachers and staff in this district extremely valuable assets and an integral component to the success of students.

“As such, this board is comfortable with the fair offer it has made to the union, which will allow its members to remain as the highest paid teachers in the state for years to come, with no other district even remotely approaching our salary levels,” wrote Argenziano.

The mediation session may be the first in a series of meetings if a settlement is not reached.

Should the parties not reach a settlement Feb. 27, the mediator has the authority to possibly meet an additional time if he feels a settlement can be reached,” the NVEA told Northern Valley Press. “If not, he may assign the case to fact finding. The union is hopeful that a settlement can be reached.”

—Staff report based on reporting by Michael Olohan