By Dana Drake
As negotiations with the Lawrence Township Education Association continue, you may have noticed teachers picketing outside school buildings prior to the start of the school day. The Board understands the frustration experienced by our staff, students and the general public; we are frustrated too and want to resolve the contract quickly, amicably and fairly.
At the Board’s last negotiation session with LTEA, the union team decided that mediation attempts had failed and that we must begin the time-consuming and expensive process of fact-finding. Just to note for comparison’s sake—as of press time—LTEA’s neighbor bargaining unit in Princeton has met with their school board for six mediation sessions. In Lawrence, LTEA deemed it appropriate to halt the process after two sessions.
Now we’ll wait for the appointment and scheduling of a state fact-finder. The Board reminds LTEA leadership that the commencement of fact-finding doesn’t preclude us from going back to the bargaining table and trying again. The board believes there are plenty of matters yet to be discussed and is available at LTEA’s convenience to bargain in good faith, and get this contract resolved.
While we are not able to provide the public specifics about the negotiations because of our continued commitment to both the process and the confidentiality agreement with LTEA, we’d like to address some misconceptions out in the public. We’ve had people approach us asking if it was true that the Board’s proposal was for no raises or that lunches were going to be cut to 15 minutes. Without discussing the details of the negotiations, please know such rumors are false.
On a more positive note, the board’s negotiating committee had its first contract negotiations meeting with the Lawrence Township Principals and Supervisors Association (LTPSA). The committee was happy to report it was a collaborative and productive meeting, and look forward to a quick resolution.
In other good news, the Lawrence Township Education Foundation presented LTPS staff with 21 grants, totaling $39,626 at our April Board meeting. The Board thanks LTEF and all those who have donated, for their continued generosity to fund such innovative curricular enhancements that fall outside the constraints of our budget. To learn more about LTEF or ways you can help support their efforts, go online to their website at ltefnj.org. And, if you want to see LTEF’s funding in action, check out the 2nd Annual Lawrence Middle School Arts Festival on Wednesday, May 20. This event will feature student work in the areas of visual, musical, performing, literary, technology and media arts.
Speaking of the arts…last month I mentioned attending several of the district’s wonderful musical productions which left me applauding our district’s music program. Well, it seems I am not the only one. For the seventh time, Lawrence Township Public Schools has earned the distinction of “Best Community for Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation. Congratulations to all those involved with our fine arts program for this recognition as one of just 388 districts nationwide to qualify for this honor in 2015! There are several upcoming choral and instrumental concerts for various grade levels across the district (too many to list); please visit our district calendar online for dates/times of these events.
If your child will be five years old on or before Oct. 1, 2015 and you live in Lawrence Township, your child is eligible to attend Kindergarten at LTPS beginning in September 2015. If you have not yet registered, you can begin the easy, pre-registration process online (registration.ltps.org). Also, be sure to visit our online district calendar, for dates and times of “Kindergarten Orientation” and “Kindergarten Open House,” at our elementary schools in May/early June.
School will be closed Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. Be safe and enjoy the three-day weekend!
Dana Drake is a member of the Lawrence Township Board of Education. Let us hear from you—if there are any particular issues you would like addressed, please email askaboardmember@ltps.org
