Glen Ridge teachers have been without contracts for 140 days – NorthJersey.com

After almost half a year without a contract, Glen Ridge teachers told the board of education Monday night that they’re tired of being overworked and underpaid.

More than 40 teachers wearing matching education association shirts showed up at the board of education meeting Monday night to push for a new contract. Teachers in the district have been without a contract for 140 days as of Monday, said MaryLynn Savio, co-president of the Glen Ridge Education Association. Teachers have been negotiating for a new contract since last fall, according to Superintendent Dirk Phillips. 

Elisabeth Ginsburg, the school board president, said both sides are expected to meet within the next week to continue talks.

Among the teachers who spoke at the meeting, one thing that was clear — they loved their vocation and students.

“I love this place, I love my colleagues, I love these kids,” said Matthew Cannici, an English teacher at Glen Ridge High School. “And I’m overworked, undersupported and underpaid.”

Cannici said the morale in the district has been in steady decline since he began teaching there 10 years ago. Cannici makes $76,037 a year, according to public records. The district’s “chronic understaffing” has teachers picking up extra classes to compensate and the pay lags behind other districts, he said.

While he did not want to be in a position to give a speech at the meeting, Cannici said he is in the right place and saying the right things because he cares about his colleagues.

“We are at a moment where the board of education needs to reevaluate their approach to these negotiations and to their employees overall because we are worth it and we’re not accepting a contract that hurts the [education association] members,” Cannici said.

In 2008, teachers experienced a pay freeze during the recession with the belief pay would increase when there was more financial stability in the district, Savio said.

“The economy has rebounded but yet in two subsequent contract negotiations, we never received offers at the county average and we’re required to make major concessions to get the modest increases we did receive,” Savio said.

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According to public records, Savio makes $113,852 a year after being a teacher in the district for 21 years. Teachers in Glen Ridge are on a 17-step system and Ridgewood Avenue School math teacher Alice Baker-Roberts said teachers who reach the final step are only offered several hundred dollars more or no pay increase.

“I can’t think of many things in life that don’t increase in cost from one year to the next,” Baker-Roberts said.

She said her children’s travel soccer costs, Chromebook insurance costs, high school activity fees and property tax hikes “outpace” her salary increases and teachers are effectively making at least $7,000 less than they were 10 years ago as a result. In 2011, former Gov. Chris Christie passed legislation that had teachers, firefighters and police to pay more into their health care plan. Baker-Roberts said she pays close to $12,000 a year in health care costs and public records show her yearly salary is $102,744.

Kostas Barkouras, a middle school science teacher, said he made more as a waiter seven years ago than he does now. Barkouras makes $64,194 a year, according to public records.

“I would like to think I am making a great contribution to society by educating future leaders of this country than serving meals at a restaurant,” Barkouras said. 

Phillips said the teachers who attended the meeting are passionate and dedicated and hope the board and teachers can come together in “good faith” to reach an agreement. Ginsburg said people on the same team tend to find themselves on opposite sides when it comes to contract negotiations.

A mediator is expected to attend the next board of education meeting in December, Ginsburg said. 

Kaitlyn Kanzler covers Essex County for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: kanzler@northjersey.com Twitter: @KaitlynKanzler8

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