Board of Education President Adam Sangillo answers questions about ongoing HEA contract negotiations.
Dear Haddonfield Community,
On behalf of the school board, I’d like to answer some questions about the teachers’ contract.
Question: What does it mean when the teachers and staff say that they are working without a contract?
Answer: The faculty is working under the terms of the contract that expired in June 2017. They are receiving the same pay and benefits that they received at that time and are subject to all of the same contractual protections. While employees do not receive any raises or changes in benefits until a new contract is agreed upon, traditionally the BOE retroactively compensates those adjustments.
Question: Where are you in the process?
Answer: We have been meeting for many months with substantial progress. The HEA and BOE jointly agreed to have a state mediator appointed to help us resolve our remaining differences. The mediator was appointed on Oct. 2, and we look forward to working with him. A state-appointed mediator was used for the two previous settlements.
Question: What are your principal goals in the negotiation?
Answer: Both parties agree that the specifics must remain private. This enables both parties to compromise and potentially reconsider positions taken earlier in the negotiations. The BOE’s principal objectives are to compensate our teachers and staff fairly and to maintain the quality of education our community desires at a cost that the taxpayers can afford.
Question: Doesn’t working under an expired contract deleteriously affect employee morale?
Answer: It certainly can, and the BOE appreciates when community members show support for the teachers and staff. Our district has outstanding employees, and we fully support them. We hope you will continue to support the teachers, staff, administrators and BOE members as we work together.
The BOE is committed to reaching a fair settlement as expeditiously as possible.
Sincerely,
Adam Sangillo, Board of Education President
