Teachers: No plans for job action during negotiations

Teachers: No plans for job
action during negotiations

MARLBORO — Teachers in the town’s elementary school district won’t sacrifice their students’ education in their efforts to negotiate a new contract with the Board of Education, according to union representatives.

Sixth-grade teacher Anthony Scotto, speaking for the Marlboro Township Education Association (MTEA), said the union stepped up its efforts last week at several back-to-school nights to let residents know that teachers want a resolution to their contract negotiations soon. But Scotto said teachers won’t let the negotiations interfere with their teaching duties.

"We’re not going to be putting forth any kind of a boycott or any work stoppage," said Scotto, a member of the MTEA’s negotiating team. "The teachers have been and still will be doing not only everything they are required to do, but they’re still going above and beyond. They’re still staying after school to help students. They’re still working extra hours to improve their lesson plans. Our mission has been to make sure that nothing changes during the workday."

Last week, members of the MTEA began passing out fliers at family and school events to get their message across.

"We want to make sure that doesn’t interfere with the activities as well," Scotto said. "For instance, I might go to another school’s back-to-school night to hand out fliers, but I wouldn’t do it at my own school, where I’d have professional responsibilities."

Scotto said the MTEA had about 73 members at a back-to-school night held last week, and members spoke with between 700 and 800 families.

"We want to do this in as peaceful and as non-confrontational a way as possible," Scotto said.

Marlboro Board of Education President Terry Spilken said he appreciates the teachers’ decision not to resort to pressure tactics that could be harmful to students.

"I have tremendous respect and pride for the entire staff through this, for the teachers, drivers, aides and others," he said. "They’re not using the children as pawns. They’re not letting the education of the children be in any way affected. I thank them for that."

A state-appointed mediator has met with school board and union representatives twice. A third mediation session is scheduled for Oct. 12.

"We really want to get some closure at the October meeting," Scotto said. "We’d like to see this settled then."

District teachers are working under the terms of a contract that expired in June. While negotiations started during the 1999-2000 school year, board members and teachers came to an impasse and have been unable to reach a new agreement.

Scotto said he could not discuss the specific items still being negotiated, but he said that among other goals, the teachers are looking for a "significant salary increase.

"Our goal has always been to come to a reasonable settlement that would be fair to both sides," Spilken said. "In negotiations, in any negotiation, each side has different things they’re looking for. It’s a give and take. Hopefully, we’ll have all of our issues settled soon."