Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Parents urge BOE to reach accord with union - NorthJersey.com

Parents urge BOE to reach accord with union - NorthJersey.com
Parents urge BOE to reach accord with union
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
BLOOMFIELD LIFE
of Bloomfield Life

BLOOMFIELD - Many parents are urging the board of education (BOE) and teachers' union to come to an agreement on a new contract.

Parents ramped up the pressure on the board of education (BOE) to reach a new deal with the Bloomfield Education Association during Tuesday's BOE meeting at Forest Glen School.
JEFF FRANKEL/BLOOMFIELD LIFE
Parents ramped up the pressure on the board of education (BOE) to reach a new deal with the Bloomfield Education Association during Tuesday's BOE meeting at Forest Glen School.

Several parents accused the BOE Jan. 11 of acting in bad faith in its negotiations with the union, though BOE President Joseph Lopez said any such rumor is untrue. Debbie Ellis was among parents who told the board to get on with it during the BOE's Jan. 11 meeting, held at Bridges Academy at Forest Glen.

"I don't believe the board is negotiating in good faith with the teachers," said Ellis.

Township teachers have been working without a contract since June, and negations are now at an impasse. In December, a mediator sat down with both sides in an attempt to reach a settlement. Before that meeting, roughly 500 teachers held a candlelight vigil in the school