Moorestown BOE Willing to Meet with Teacher's Union in Contract Impasse

Nearly a year after the Moorestown school district's contract with its teachers expired, the two sides remain at an impasse. 

But school board members said that if a fact-finder's report doesn't arrive before the start of the new school year in the fall, the board will be willing to sit down again with Moorestown Education Association, the teacher's union. 

"If the MEA is willing to show some change, we are willing to attempt to settle a contract," board member David Weinstein said during the board's meeting Tuesday. "The issue remains that we are still several million dollars apart."

The last fact-finding hearing was held May 17. 

The teachers’ contract expired June 30, 2010. Negotiations began in February 2010, but the two sides have not been able to come to terms. 

The fact-finder, Thomas Hartigan, will issue a written report with the recommended terms of a settlement that will be submitted to both parties, and to the director of conciliation. The report will not be binding. 

Board members said previously that the MEA was offered a proposal based on the Moorestown Administrators Association (MAA) agreement of no salary increases in the first year, 2 percent in second year and 2 percent in the third year, along with a health plan that would mirror the MAA arrangement. The MEA did not accept the offer.

Asked by an audience member if the board would accept Hartigan's findings, Weinstein said, "I can't answer that positively because I don't know what the report is going to say."

That response drew groans from the audience of about 75 people. 

Superintendent John Bach said that if the contract dispute isn't settled soon, "there will be a lot of collateral damage, and the community will not be the same."

Heather Trapani, vice-president of the teacher's union, told the board that its actions to date show it is not interested in a settlement with the union. 

"The BOE would rather drag this out into another school year, than do what is best for the students and families of Moorestown," she said. "The BOE would rather hold on to their own political beliefs, than reach a compromise that both parties could live with.

"The MEA would like to see the Board of Education find the courage to do what is best for the children and families of Moorestown. Settle the contract."