Board and Union to Push Restart Button

Howard Teichman signs in at the lectern Tuesday night, (Bergeron Image)

In a move that could resume stalled contract negotiations between the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education and the teachers’ union – the BREA – Board President Evan Lerner announced at this evening’s public meeting that both groups will meet informally next week.

Mr. Lerner’s announcement was prompted by a question from former Board Member and frequent meeting attendee, Howard Teichman, who queried Mr. Lerner to that effect during the public portion of tonight’s meeting. 

Up to this point, the Board and the union were at an impasse, after the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association had previously asked for a mediator to be brought into the process.

However, at the heavily attended special School Board meeting on July 18, where the purpose was to discuss allocation of an extra $1.3 million in state aid, union officials went to the podium and, in an apparent change of heart, publicly stated that they were willing to meet “tomorrow,” with no hired consultants or lawyers present.

Scheduling is now taking place to finalize a meeting date for next week.  According to Evan Lerner, its purpose is to “try to get to a resolution.”  Attending next week’s meeting on behalf of the B-R BOE will be Board President Evan Lerner and Board Member Jeffrey Brookner. 

Attending on behalf of the BREA will be its President, Steve Beatty and its Chief Negotiator, Joe Krenetsky, who was away out of the country. 

Remarkably, that’s it – just four people.  According to Mr. Lerner “no professionals” will be involved:  Only two representatives from the Board and two from the teachers’ union.