The Princeton School Board and the teachers’ union are ironing out the final details of a two-year extension to the current contract that would carry through to the end of the 2020 school year.

Seeking to avoid the kind of conflict and public demonstrations that characterized the contentious negotiations over the current contract, which were finally resolved two years ago, the board and the Princeton Regional Education Association (PREA) have laid the groundwork to reach an agreement at least a year before the contract expires on June 30, 2018. 

The tentative agreement, which was achieved in a series of meetings between representatives of the board and representatives of the teachers’ union over the past three weeks, calls for 2.63 percent overall annual salary increase, in line with the final year of the current contract, and the same rate of health benefits collection and shared savings as in the current contract.

The next step is to agree on the specifics of the salary guide and the distribution of the increase among teachers with
varying degrees of experience. Once that is complete the PREA general membership will meet for ratification, after which the agreement will be presented for approval at the next board meeting.

Both sides are hoping to reach a final agreement in the next two weeks.

“Instead of expiring at the end of next year, the contract will extend through 2020,” Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Steve Cochrane announced at the last board meeting. “And instead of spending our next year embroiled in negotiations, the board, the teachers, our schools, and our community will all be focused on fulfilling the goals of our strategic plan and on preparing our students to lead lives of joy and purpose.”

PREA Co-Presidents Theresa Cross, John McCann, and Renee Szporn echoed the superintendent’s comments in a statement this week: “We anticipate finalizing the contract extension shortly and putting the contract extension before our membership for a vote. In the future, we look forward to a partnership with administration, parents, the community, and the Board of Education to continue the fantastic work accomplished in Princeton Public Schools on behalf of our students.”

The PREA co-presidents and the superintendent have been meeting monthly during the past year “to share information, solve potential problems, and develop a common vision for moving our district forward,” according to Mr. Cochrane.

“From the beginning,” he added, “the PREA leadership had expressed their hope of laying the groundwork for smooth and productive contract negotiations when that time came. When I floated the idea of extending the current contract, the PREA leadership was immediately receptive. The goal of all parties has been to keep the focus on the positive direction of the district and the important work contained in our strategic plan.”

In his remarks at the board meeting, Mr. Cochrane went on to thank the leaders of the teachers’ union “for their strong and consistent commitment to working collaboratively to solve problems, enhance wellness, and deepen learning — for staff and students. I am very appreciative of what we have already accomplished together. I am grateful for the focus on collaborating in the best interest of our kids. And I look forward to what we will be able to achieve in the years to come.”