Teachers, High School District Reach Tentative Agreement on Contract

Nearly two months into a third school year without a new contract, the West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education and West Morris Regional Teacher’s Association has tentatively agreed to a contract settlement.

In a joint statement released by both sides Tuesday morning, the negotiations teams were “pleased to announce that a tentative agreement to settle the contract has been reached.”

Details of the contract will be announced after both sides vote on the pact and ratify the contract.

Both sides met with a super conciliator Monday night after an arbitrator’s findings were supported by the board, but denied by the teachers in June of this year.

The fact finder’s synopsis, which can also be seen here, shows three significant recommendations, including:

Salary increases:

• A 2.25% salary increase for the 2013-14 year (county average was 2.05%)
• A 2.35% salary increase for the 2014-15 year (county average was 2.16%)
• A 2.45% salary increase for the 2015-16 year (county average was 2.22%)
• A 2.40% salary increase for the 2016-17 year (proposed by arbitrator, but a fourth year was not included in either the board’s or the union’s proposals)

Slight increase in prescription co-pay

Increase of a starting salary from $47,535 to $50,170

According to the report, in the final year of the current contract, 2012-13, the West Morris Regional Education Association ranked highest in Morris County for average salary.

Board president Gary Lakritz told Patch the board knew the starting salary needed to come up and was fine with the recommendation to increase Step 1 pay by $2,635, making the district more competitive.

The arbitrator’s report noted that the district was among the lowest in starting salary both among its county peers and district factor group peers, but among the highest in overall salaries in both groups.

Details of the tentative agreement are not yet available.