B-R Board and School Unions Keep the Door Open

In the second week of August, representatives of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education (B-R BOE) and those of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association (BREA) met to discuss the status of contract negotiations. 

Evan Lerner and Patrick Breslin, President and Vice-President, respectively, and Peter Starrs, Board Secretary,  discuss a point prior to start of  the 7/19/11 meeting where disposition of $1.3 million of additional state aid was taken up. (Photo/Dick Bergeron)

That meeting followed requests made by BREA representatives Steve Beatty and Dave Doheny, both of whom had spoken at previous Board meetings, suggesting publicly that the parties should sit down and have a face-to-face discussion without hired negotiators present. 

Earlier in the summer, the BREA had declared an impasse to negotiations and requested the appointment of a mediator. In an apparent change of heart since then, both Messrs. Beatty and Doheny seemed to feel that it would be better if both groups could come together informally to discuss their current views.  That meeting took place  August 11^th.

Reached by phone Sunday afternoon, Bridgewater-Raritan Board President Evan Lerner confirmed that the Board’s negotiations team did meet with the BREA.  The outcome of that meeting, at least from my phone discussion with Mr. Lerner, seems to have attained its purpose, which was to clarify positions and to establish what is still at issue between the Board and the BREA.

Meeting Scheduled with Union Reps Today

A negotiations committee of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education is expected to meet today with representatives of the BREA (the teachers union) in an effort to continue hammering out a potential agreement between the two parties.

Evan Lerner listens as Pat Breslin offers his opinion. (Bergeron Image)

Representing the B-R BOE are its President Evan Lerner; Board Member Jeffrey Brookner; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Schilder who sits in; as well as a professional negotiator hired by the Board.

The current contract with the BREA – by far the largest bargaining unit – expires at the end of this month.  Meanwhile, contract talks with unions representing supervisors and principals are being held in abeyance awaiting the outcome of BREA negotiations.

A source close to these intermittent but ongoing talks informed me that after about four weeks of waiting, the BREA has received the B-R BOE’s latest offer.  That person was unable to comment on the likelihood that it would be accepted.