Princeton Teachers, District Make Concessions to Agree on Contract

Teachers in Princeton are on their way to finalizing a new contract, now that both sides have ratified a new memorandum of agreement that includes a first year step freeze and subsequent yearly increases of 2.78 percent and 2.5 percent.

On Tuesday, the Board of Education voted 8-0 to approve the agreement retroactive to July 1, 2011 and extending to June 30, 2014.

Both sides came to agreement on Jan. 19, following more than a year of negotiations, including several sessions with a mediator.

In the first year of the contract, members of the Princeton Regional Education Association will remain at their current pay steps except for longevity and will receive a cash payout beginning at $1,250 based on individual levels of education, Board President Rebecca Cox said.

The second year increase of 2.78 percent includes consideration of higher state-mandated healthcare contributions.

In year three, the teachers’ 2.5 percent increase will be offset by the district’s phasing out of its two most expensive health care plans, which will not be offered past June, 2014.

Teachers have also agreed to no monetary increase in the contract’s first year for those who coach, advise clubs or supervise other extracurricular activities. Those participating will receive 2 percent increases in both the second and third year.

“Overall it’s a very fair contract,” Assistant Superintendent Lew Goldstein said. “I think it will be in line with other districts and contracts over a three year period and the overall cost for the board comes in below the property tax cap increase."

PREA members ratified the terms of the new agreement on Feb. 2.

Teachers have been working under the terms of an expired contract since June 30, 2011

In the fall of 2011, the district signed contracts with both its support staff and administrators. Support staff agreed to a 2 percent increase this year and administrators signed a three-year contract with pay increases of 1.98 percent, 2.25 percent and 2.25 percent, beginning in the 2011-12 academic year.

Board member Dan Haughton was absent Tuesday and board member Charles Kalmbach abstained from the vote because his wife is a teacher in the district.