Woodbridge, NJ|News|
Pay Hikes for NJ Teachers Dip Slightly, But New Pacts Hint at Reversal of Trend
While salary increases may be on the rise, contracts call for concessions such as paying more toward health benefits.

Email: davy.james@patch.com
Phone: 609-937-4559
Hometown: East Windsor, NJ
Birthday: July 17
Bio: Davy James is the Editor of South Brunswick Patch and East Brunswick Patch. He is a lifelong New Jersey resident, born in Princeton Hospital and raised in East Windsor. He attended Hightstown High School and following graduation worked in the exciting, glamorous and challenging fields of gas station pump attendant and farm equipment parts sales.
Davy graduated with honors from Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies.
Davy got his start in journalism working as a reporter and staff writer for Packet Publications, where he spent three years covering South Brunswick.
Davy looks forward to continuing his time in South Brunswick with Patch, where he will continue to report on the Township Council, schools and other goings on around town.
Davy is an avid sports fan, football junky and somewhat proud season ticket holder for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, where his hopes are perennially crushed by the football team.
Davy enjoys the mindless comedies of Will Ferrell, the gory mayhem of Quentin Tarantino movies and the books of Ernest Hemingway.
Before finally buying an iPod, Davy spent countless dollars replacing his worn out Nirvana CDs, which he listens to on near constant repeat.
Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics: I am a registered Democrat who is liberal on some issues and conservative on others. I don't believe any reasonable person can make all of their political decisions based on one overarching philosophy. I believe in listening to both sides and making an independent decision based on fact and not party lines.
Religion: Non-religious.
What are the most important issues facing the community?
The difficulties both the Township Council and Board of Education face with balancing the services and programs they provide with the need to keep property taxes down. The need to control development in town versus the necessity to bring in clean ratables. Like anyone who has driven through South Brunswick during rush hour or close to it, when is Route 1 finally going to be widened?
While salary increases may be on the rise, contracts call for concessions such as paying more toward health benefits.

South Brunswick High School football Head Coach Joseph Goerge talks a new year of Vikings football.
South Brunswick High School football kicks off new season Thursday against East Brunswick.
Find homes for sale in East Brunswick on this page every week, from our partners at Zillow.
Find homes for sale in South Brunswick on this page every week, from our partners at Zillow.
For Ron Viola, who repaired the FDNY's fire engines after 9/11, the terror attacks meant an end to innocence.
For Ron Viola, who repaired the FDNY's fire engines after 9/11, the terror attacks meant an end to innocence.
For Ron Viola, who repaired the FDNY's fire engines after 9/11, the terror attacks meant an end to innocence.
Three South Brunswick residents were killed in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Vacancies in central New Jersey still near the 10-year high set last year.
Vacancies in central New Jersey still near the 10-year high set last year.
Vacancies in central New Jersey still near the 10-year high set last year.
Record high number of families in need combined with low donation levels have caused a desperate situation at South Brunswick Food Pantry.
Summer heat is back on hump day.
Activists blame shortage of funds and insufficient time for planning due to Christie opposition to state-run exchange
Activists blame shortage of funds and insufficient time for planning due to Christie opposition to state-run exchange.
Activists blame shortage of funds and insufficient time for planning due to Christie opposition to state-run exchange
Activists blame shortage of funds and insufficient time for planning due to Christie opposition to state-run exchange.