Teachers make issue of benefits Tuesday, September 19, 2006 • By SARA K. SATULLO • The Express-Times OXFORD TWP. | Oxford Education Association members said Monday they were getting positive feedback from a letter on the status of contract talks that they distributed to parents at a recent back to school night. "We just wanted to let the parents know we still aren't settled," said Laura DiRenzo, the association president. "A lot of them thought we were because it had been so long." DiRenzo said many parents had been shocked to learn the status of negotiations and she received no negative responses. Fourth-grade teacher Bridgett Carvajal of Bethlehem said she hopes parents turn out for Thursday's board of education meeting. "The parents seemed very supportive and upset we still have no contract and that class sizes got bigger. Some seemed to be pointing fingers at the board saying 'What's the going on?'" she said. Chief School Administrator Bob Magnuson said he and the board are very hopeful the negotiations conclude soon. "I think that a lot of people in the community are concerned that there is no resolution to the negotiations," he said. "In the note that I saw there is a little bit of a misleading statement over the benefits. With this new plan the district will save the money." In the letter teachers wrote: "Meanwhile, the Board opted to switch our health insurance carrier to a private carrier that will cost the district significantly more money than our current carrier." Carvajal said from the teachers' calculations the new plan could cost the district $10,000 more than the old plan. "The teachers are disappointed because one of the board's responsibilities is being an advocate for education," she said. "It seems financial and tax decisions are coming first rather than what's best for the kids." Reporter Sara K. Satullo can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by e-mail at ssatullo@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.