BOE, Teachers to Meet Once More Prior to School Year

Despite not being able to meet with a state-appointed mediator again until Oct. 2, the Moorestown Board of Education and Moorestown Education Association are going to give negotiations on a new teachers' contract one more try before the start of the school year.

In a statement read by school board vice president Kathy Goldenberg during Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting, the school board extended an offer to meet with the teachers union on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 3. If the two sides meet and come to an agreement, it could mean Moorestown's teachers start the school year with a new deal in place. The first full day of school for students is Monday, Sept. 9.

MEA president Lisa Trapani said following the meeting that the union would agree to meet on that date, stating, “We are always willing to meet.”

The hope is that the two sides can avoid having the teachers begin the school year without a contract for the second time in three years. The union worked the entire school year in 2010-11 without a contract.

This next negotiation session will also take place without the state-appointed mediator. There are only three mediators in the state, and one was not available again until October.

The union and board last met for negotiations on Aug. 5, the first meeting with a state-appointed mediator present. During that meeting, board member Kevin O’Sullivan stated that the two sides “moved a little on salaries,” but were still apart.

In the statement from Tuesday, Goldenberg cited salary, health care and contract language as the three barriers that still need to be cleared between the two sides in negotiations.

Outside of the statement read by Goldenberg, there was no other mention of the ongoing negotiations at the meeting.

Check back with Moorestown Patch for further updates on this story as it develops.