The Kenneth R. Olson Middle School library was packed with a sea of red shirts as Tabernacle Education Association members filled the room in support of the union and the board agreeing on a new contract.
At the Oct. 21 board of education meeting, members from the union spoke during both rounds of public comment to address their needs of having a new and fair contract. The previous contract expired July 1.
“Since our previous contract has expired from July 1 up until now, the association members have collectively spent $10,803 of their own money for their students, and donated 3,285 hours of their own time in order to continue the excellent education the Tabernacle community has come to expect,” Juliann Toone, union member and elementary school teacher, said during public comment.
Union member Tom Crilley also spoke, stating the union is aware of the settlements and similar situations with teacher contracts that took place throughout the county in districts similar to Tabernacle. He added he believes the staff and teachers deserve “the similar respect and a fair contract settlement” to those in the area.
Kenneth R. Olson Middle School Secretary Kim Brown, who’s been with the district for more than 20 years, delivered a speech urging the board to “remember the faces of the people who will be affected by your decisions.” She said her husband, Stephen, lives with ALS and she works full time to support her family.
“My family and I are very thankful for our medical benefits,” Brown said. “My medical benefits allow for my husband to stay home and be cared for and not be sent away to a facility.”
Board member Col. Stephen Henske said he recognizes the amount of care teachers have for their students, as his children have graduated from, or are still in, the school district.
Henske is, however, concerned over the misinformation on why the board and TEA are at an impasse in the contract. Salaries and benefits, board secretary and business administrator Jessica DeWysockie said, are 77 percent of the total operating budget.
As a public employee, Henske said he’s familiar with how valuable healthcare is to a family and how it can change in an instant. He also said “something has to give” to compensate for raises.
Teacher Steve Cramer said during the second round of public comment, it’s given that teachers make up the 77 percent of the budget “because we’re 77 percent of your school.”
Henske added some parents or residents will state the board needs to cut money, especially in areas of technology, “yet [Michael] Dunlea just got an award and went down to the White House” because of Dunlea’s use of technology in the classroom.
“Where do we cut? We need to manage expectations,” he said. “When a teacher or parent comes up here and says ‘we need to cut the salary of the superintendent’ or ‘we need to not give him his pay raises’ and NJ.com says ‘the highest paid teacher in Tabernacle makes $92,000 a year’ — that’s where I have a disparity.”
He capped his time in reiterating that he supports the teachers in what they do for students, but that the district is in a tough spot, especially with the ongoing state aid cuts.
Resident Terry Realley said he supports the teachers, as his children come home and express to him how their teachers constantly foster a love of learning and care for their students. He clarified that while he is in support of the teachers, he is in no way against the board.
“I appreciate the comments that were said here and the ones from the board,” Cramer said. “I don’t think we’re that far apart. I say this as a community guy; we all live here and want the same things.”
Talks of the contract continued in executive session and the board is expected to meet with representatives from the union and a state-appointed mediator on Oct. 29.
In other news:
- Through the middle school’s STEM program, woodshop is being brought back. STEM teacher Heather Petersack and board member Gail Corey worked together with the Tabernacle Education Foundation to get a tabletop station for their projects. Petersack added the students use math, technology (tools) and engineering to put together the projects.
- The board is reviewing its emergency bus evacuation drills policy and regulation to see if it should be added, at the recommendation of board member Megan Chamberlain, to require all students to do rear exits during drills.
- A representation from Toshiba formally presented a $3,800 check to the education foundation. The check will be used to support the students’ biowise project with frogs and other species.
The next board of education meeting is scheduled for Nov. 4, beginning at 6 p.m. at OMS library, 132 New Road.
