To the Editor:

In the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education’s negotiations with Princeton Regional Education Association (“PREA”) on October 2, 2014, the parties reached a point where it seemed that further discussion was not leading to progress, and PREA terminated the meeting. The issues in this negotiation came down to salary and benefits, but the real issue from the Board’s point of view was the sustainability of the quality education we provide to our students.

The Board is seeking a contract that (i) has a reasonable salary increase for teachers; (ii) controls healthcare costs for both sides, and (iii) includes a fair salary guide that gives teachers a predictable salary increase in each year of the agreement. From PREA’s point of view, they would like the District to reduce their healthcare contributions that have been imposed by State Law Chapter 78.

The problem with the PREA’s demands is that they are simply unaffordable. The PREA’s current proposal for salary increases and healthcare givebacks is far in excess of the maximum tax raise we could ask taxpayers to pay by law under the 2 percent cap on tax increases. As fiduciaries for the children and for this community, we cannot pay what they are asking us to give.

Simply asking taxpayers, or the District, to pay more jeopardizes the quality of the education we provide to our children. If we gave more than a reasonable amount to PREA, we know that programs and teachers would need to be cut. Our children’s class sizes would increase. Our duty as Board members is to our children and our taxpayers, and is to sustain the high quality of our schools, which we all value.

We believe that there is a fair deal that can be done with PREA. It would involve looking at salary increases coupled with health plans that save money for BOTH sides, and we cannot negotiate salary in isolation from health benefits. We need to collaborate on solutions that benefit us both in order to maintain educational excellence — we cannot simply pay more, and certainly not more than we have to give.

In our meeting, PREA asked us to counter-propose on salary only, while refusing to propose any benefit plan other than the status quo, or to discuss any of the Board’s offers on health benefit plans that would save both sides money. In addition, we have proposed a pay increase and a salary guide that provides predictable and fair pay increases each year. PREA refuses to discuss those proposals.

We plan to meet again with PREA on October 22, and a mediator will meet with PREA and the Board on November 20. We hope to arrive at a solution, but in order to do that both sides need to work together and work within the confines of what is prudent, sustainable, and best for our children and our taxpayers.

Molly Chrein, Andrea Spalla,

Patrick Sullivan

Members of the Board of Education,

Princeton Public Schools