Fanwood USPS 4852MI OUR 37Th YEAR - ISSUE NO
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SCOTCH PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY 1927 BARTLE AVENUE — Serving Scotch Plains and Fcnwood Since 1959 — SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J, 07076 SCOTCH PUU FHE TIMES TANWOOD ScuiC h Plains - Fanwood USPS 4852MI OUR 37th YEAR - ISSUE NO. 36 Published Periodical - Postage Paid at Scotch Plains, NJ. Thursday, September 5,1996 Every Thursday 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS TENTATIVE ACCORD ENDS THREAT OF STRIKE AS SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS Teachers Union, Board of Education Reach Tentative Agreement; Members Vote Today Union and Board Negotiation Teams Have Met On and Off for Past Seventeen Months; Fact Finder's Report Was Delivered August 20 By SUZETTE STALKER and extends through June 30, 1998. and came to a meeting of the minds," necessary. Specially Written far Tht Times Negotiation teams for the board the School Board President remarked. Assisting the union negotiators was A tentative contract agreement was and the union met for more than four In a statement issued by the school Ronald Harvey of UniServe, a re- reachedAugust28betweenthe Scotch hours last Wednesday night to dis- district Tuesday, Dr. Sheldon also gional office of the New Jersey Edu- Plains-Fanwood Board of Education cuss a report from fact-finder Daniel maintained that "even though the fact- cation Association, which is the state and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Edu- Brent of the state Public Employee finder's report was received much teachers union. UniServe advises cation Association, climaxing 17 Relations Committee (PERC) prior later than expected, we believe it was municipal teacher unions on legal months of tense negotiations which to signing a memorandum of agree- the catalyst that was needed to finally questions during negotiations. Rep- had threatened to lead to a strike by ment. Mr. Brent was assigned to the bring the negotiations to a conclu- resenting the board in the same ca- union members during the opening negotiations in May after the board sion." pacity was Raymond Casseta. days of the 1996-1997 school year. and the association failed to reach a Scotch Plains-Fanwood Superin- The union, comprised of about 427 settlement with the aide of a state "We've been negotiating for 17 tendent of Schools Dr. Carol B. mediator. months. I'm very relieved and I'm teachers, secretaries and aides, Choye, in the same statement, com- learned the details of the proposed looking forward to a new positive Members of both the board and the mented she was "thrilled that we can outlook on the opening of schools agreement at a 7 a.m. meeting Tues- association were pleased to have now put our full attention where it day morning, and were expected to this year. I think that's everyone's reached the tentative contract and al ways ought to be—on our students point of view," Mrs. McGuane com- vote on it this afternoon, Thursday, expressed relief that the prolonged and the improvement of their learn- September 5, at about 4 p.m. The mented the day after the tentative negotiations process had apparently ing." agreement had been reached. "We Board of Education is scheduled to reached an end. The Scotch Plains- just want to get into the classrooms vote on the proposed contract on Fanwood school district had been the The board's negotiation team was chaired by Morris H. "Butch" Gillet, and teach the children and put the rest Thursday, September 12. only one in Union County not to have of it behind us." The financial terms of the settle- reached a contract settlement. who was re-elected to his second ment call for teachers to receive an- term on the Scotch Plains-Fanwood The union's previous contract ex- Oavld B. Corbln for The Times "We're elated to have an agree- School Board in April. In addition to AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE...About to enter the new world of educa- nual raises of 3.92 percent, 3.34 per- ment and we're looking to have our pired on June 30,1995, with negotia- Dr. Sheldon, the team also included tions for a new contract having begun tion are these first graders at the Howard B. Brunner Elementary School in cent and 3.59 percent over the three teachers back in the classrooms giv- board members Mrs. Theresa Larkin six months earlier. After a dozen con- Scotch Plains. Pictured, left to right, are: Jimmy Strobel, Tommy Holt, Ryan years of the pact, which covers the ing our children the best possible and August L. Ruggiero. tract talks failed to resolve the labor Mullen, Andrea Apuzzio, Katelyn Cavanagh, Lauren Cutrone, Alexis Turner 1995-1996 school year retroactively education without the diversion of a and Debra Dclle Donne. Scotch Plains-Fanwood schools opened yesterday. dispute, primarily involving salaries job action," Scotch Plains-Fanwood The union was represented at the negotiations table by Association and employee benefits, the board Board of Education President, Dr. declared an impasse in negotiations Donald E. Sheldon, a member of the President BarbaraMcGuane and Past Presidents Mrs. Sonya Martin, Mrs. last September 13, after which state Fanwood Planning Board Confirms board's negotiation team, told The mediator Scott Buchheit of PERC Times on August 29. Elaine Kolker, Mrs. Grace Klimko and Irwin Kaufer. Mrs. Judith was brought into the discussions. Dr. Sheldon described the fact- Massimo and Mrs. Mary Salinard, As the 1995-1996 school year pro- Resolution for Preschool Program finder's recommendations, which both of whom are also Past Associa- gressed without a settlement, the were non-binding, as having been tion Presidents, represented the sec- union staged several job actions. Westminster Preschool Sponsored by Fanwood Presbyterian Church "helpful" to the negotiation teams in retaries and aides, respectively. Members picketed outside the school reach i ng the tentati ve agreement. The By SUZETTE STALKER Past Association Vice President district's administrative offices at with recreation provided in an up- Christian education building as the report, which had been due on July 7, Camilla Berkowicz and current As- Specially Written fur The Times stairs gymnasium, as well as lunch Acorn School; that maximum class- Evergreen School before the Board was not received until August 20. sociation Vice President Theodore of Education's September 21 meet- There were no new applications and snacks. In addition, there will be room enrollment is not exceeded and "We sat down and discussed the Wurster were non-voting members an optional "lunch bunch" program that borough fire codes are adhered ing. Teachers refused to work most heard August 28 during a brief meet- fact-finder's report from their per- of the team, substituting for Mrs. Back to School Nights and union ing oi the Fanwood Planning Board, on Thursdays and Fridays for which to. spective and from our perspective McGuaneduring contract talks when children can bring their lunch and members exercised their legal option which reviewed correspondence and to take Election Day, November 7, as memorialized one resolution. The stay to play between the morning and afternoon sessions. a paid legal holiday, which resulted resolution confirmed the board's July Democratic Convention Was ' Thrill in the closing of schools that day. 24 conditional use approval for the Each session will have a half hour of supervised outdoor playground During the stalemate, union mem- Fanwood Presbyterian Church at bers charged the board was procrasti- Marline and LaGrande Avenues to time, which had prompted the board during the public hearing to approve nating in reaching a settlement. Dr. operate a new preschool program on Of Lifetime' for Freeholder Cohen CONTINUE ON PAGE 10 its premises. the playground equipment permit on condition that the 22-foot by 29-foot By CAROL I. COHEN was staying. A party was going Cull myself, rose at 6:45 a.m. to take a morn- Fanwood Presbyterian, which was Specially Written far The Westfield Leader and The Times area would be enclosed. Following a blast in the ballroom. Monday after- ing jog down to the Chicago waterfront. DEADLINES HELP represented at the public hearing sev- noon, Congressman Robert E. The first morning of the convention, I discussion then as to whether an en- Editor's Note: The following article eral weeks ago by Woodbridge Attor- was written by Democratic Union County Andrews, one of a number of unan- heard a rousing speech by Secretary of closure around the play space should PAPER SERVE YOU ney Jonathan Philipp and Church Freeholder Carol I. Cohen of Westfield, nounced Democratic Gubernatorial Housing Henry Cisneros, who outlined be required as a condition of ap- Those preparing press re Administrator Marshall Palmer, re- who attended last week's Democratic candidates, had "A Taste of Chicago" the six major factors of the Clinton Ad- proval, board members decided the National Convention in Chicago. Ms. luncheon bash at the Navy Pier. ministration Program: Safety of families leases for submission to The ceived permission for the Westminster safety of children enrolled in the pro- Preschool to occupy three classrooms Cohen, a delegate to the convention, has After the con vention, there was abirth- and children, safeguarding jobs and prop- Times are reminded all copy gram would be enhanced if the play- erty, ensuring education and training, in its Christian education building provided a detailed description of the day party for New Jersey Senatorial can- should be in the hands of the ground was enclosed. convention along with her personal im- didate Robert G. Torricelli at the Rook- keeping the streets safe, protecting the Editor at 50 Elm Street beginning Monday, September 9. pressions. The article follows a similar ery, a beautiful 1930s art deco building environment and ensuring peace through- The Westminster Preschool, spon- The resolution confirmed the story in our August 22 issue by former with an amazing wrought iron encrusted out the world.