Warren Board, WTEA Step Up Responses

After the Warren Township Education Association updated its homepage with a list of "Facts About the Negotiations," Board of Education President Gregry Przybylski responded at Monday's meeting by reiterating comments made at the June meeting and posted on the board's website.

"The WTEA made some comments about some of the materials in that publication," Dr. Przybyski said. "Having been a member of the negotiations team at that time, I would like the public to really understand what was discussed at one of those meetings."

In response to the WTEA's post that an offer including a 10.25 percent increase in salaries over the three-years of the contract term was not made (The website label's the offer as "FALSE: During one negotiation session, the Board team made the suggestion and then quickly withdrew it, explaining that they were not authorized to make such an offer."), Dr. Przybylski noted both parties had agreed to discuss salaries and health benefits in combination. 

"The board made it clear that it was very difficult to make an offer regarding salaries when health benefits were such a variable," he said.

He said the board's position was that increases in health care costs would affect the mopeny available for salary increases—and that the offer was made before the imposition of a state-mandated cap on tax levy increases and passage of legislation on employee participation in health benefit costs.

"And it was at a time when the finances of the district—based on the tax levy at that time—were different than they are currently," he added. "The board of education made it very clear that the salary that was being offered and the health benefit being offered were linked together."

Dr. Przybylski noted that, contrary to the post on the WTEA site, a member of either side's negotiating committee can't retract or change offers made without obtaining approval from the full board.

He said the legislative changes affecting the teachers' benefits and tax levies "were anticipated and discussed" at negotiating sessions, "realizing those were coming to pass down the line."

Dr. Przybylski acknowledged the board made changes to district employees' health plan, which has been challenged as an unfair labor practice by the union, but he said the plan chosen was the "most fiscally-responsible plan available to us."

He said the board and union are scheduled to meet with a fact finder on Dec. 7, which was the soonest date available for all parties involved. Following the meeting, the fact finder will provide a report summarizing recommended positions for both sides, which can be accepted or denied by either party.

"In summary, the board has made an offer in the past; it is true that the offer could not be maintained in the current climate because of legislative changes...and so we could no longer responsibly maintain that offer," he said. "We are still prepared to negotiate any differences in health benefits from what's currently being offered to what was offered in that past and are eager to achieve a fair and equitable settlement in an expeditious manner."