High School Teachers Contract Provides 2.3 Percent Annual Increases

The released the following statement Monday afternoon on the terms of the recent settlement with the school's education association.

"The Watchung Hills Regional High School Board of Education approved a collective bargaining agreement on June 18, 2012 with the Watchung Hills Regional Education Association (WHREA).

The WHREA represents teachers, secretaries, aides and technicians, custodial and maintenance workers, bus drivers and coaches and co-curricular advisors. The agreement is effective from July 1, 2011, and continues through June 30, 2014.

This agreement establishes salaries and benefits for all represented employees in each of the three school years.

The agreement, ratified last week by both the WHREA and the Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education, provides for an increase in salaries for represented employees of 2.3 percent in each of the contract years. All personnel covered by the negotiations are also subject in each year of the contract to increased payroll deductions for health care benefits and pension costs as imposed by the State. The State-imposed salary deductions were not part of the negotiations.

Additionally, tuition reimbursement funds for graduate courses and professional development were reduced by an estimated $100,000 in each contract year.

Other items negotiated included no increase to co-curricular/coaching advisor stipends, and more efficient use of currently unassigned time that teachers have which will be used for professional development and class coverage.

The Board of Education looks forward to a continued positive relationship and partnership with all who work with our students in a shared vision of excellence at Watchung Hills Regional High School."