School sides at odds again Warren Tech Board provides details of negotiations. Teacher representative cries foul. Tuesday, September 25, 2007 • By Sara K. Satullo • The Express-Times FRANKLIN TWP. | Warren Tech's school board released details of stalled contract negotiations Monday, describing what it calls a stalemate over extracurricular pay that would only benefit two coaches. But a teachers representative criticized the move, saying the board is trying to split the union by comparing salaries of longtime employees with newer teachers. The highest-paid teacher earned about $68,191 in 2005-06. The board voted 4-2 last week to reject a memorandum of agreement -- the template for a contract -- and has again requested help from a state mediator. Board President Harold Warne said the board had been waiting to vote until there was an acceptable contract. Now a state mediator must determine whether the two sides should go to mediation or fact-finding. "We thought that would be simple but it's not," Warne said. "It's very aggravating because the teachers should be paid." The Warren Tech Education Association, which has been without a contract since June 2006, ratified the agreement in May. The association has filed an unfair labor practice charge over negotiations. The contract's cost-of-living raises have been agreed upon at 4 percent in the first year, 4.25 percent in the second and a 4.5 percent raise in the third plus full medical coverage valued at $13,000, according to a news release issued by the board. John Ropars, a New Jersey Education Association representative, said the board is trying to renegotiate issues already agreed upon and wants new concessions. The contract proposal includes a series of pay increases based on experience and education known as a salary guide. The board says negotiations are hung up on the inclusion of an "off guide" salary step -- raises given to those who reach the top step. Without "off-guide" steps, those at the top would only receive one pay increase and a possible longevity bonus. The board also claims it negotiated a freeze of all coach and extracurricular pay at 2005-06 levels for the new contract. WTEA argues that two coaches who were "off guide" should receive a 4.25 percent increase each year of the contract, the release says. "This was not the agreement, and the board cannot accept giving raises to the highest-paid individuals while freezing the pay for everyone else," the release states. Ropars denied this claim, saying the association never agreed to eliminate the two coaches' "off guide" increase. "It's just flat out wrong," Ropars said. "The longer you coach at Warren Tech, the more you get paid. That is the system they've had set up for decades." The board maintains under those terms the cross country coach would be paid $6,954.33 in the contract's third year. That is more money than any coach at Phillipsburg High School is paid, excluding the head football coach. The technical school has eight athletic teams and is not in a sports conference. Under the current proposal, four teachers will be "off guide" and the highest paid will earn $87,944 in 2008-09, including insurance costs, according to the board. Reporter Sara K. Satullo can be reached at 908-475-2174 or by e-mail at ssatullo@express-times.com.