RBR Teachers Hit the Sidewalk, Again

For the second morning this week, Red Bank Regional staff members stood outside the high school on Friday during drop off as a reminder that their contract with the district expired almost two years ago.

according to Mary Karlo, president of the education association. The previous agreement with the board expired on June 30, 2011.

Approximately 150 teachers and office personnel are employed by the board and represented by the association.

Many Patch readers posted comments in support of the high school staff earlier in the week.

"I commend the teachers for speaking out in a way that doesn't affect the students' education," wrote one reader.

But many more readers responded to comments lambasting teachers, like one reader who posted, "What a bunch of lazy punks. God forbid they work more than 7 hours a day for 180 days a year." The reader then went on to thank Patch for "putting out this NJEA propaganda piece."

One reader responded, " ... way to buy into Christie' negative portrayal of teachers. RBR staffers do a great job."

Another wrote, "If they don't stand up for themselves, no one else will."

And finally, one commenter put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the union. "Unions have brainwashed teachers into believing that are worth every penny and deserve 2 months off every year."

The Board of Education will hold a meeting on Thursday, March 28 at 8 p.m. in the board conference room of the Administrative Building.