Over one thousand Freehold Regional Education Association (FREA) members, all district employees, mobilized at the Board of Education meeting Monday night to make a statement to the Board members about their dedication and hard work, in light of their upcoming contract negotiations.
Wearing bright blue t-shirts that read “FREA United” on the front and had “Over 1,000 Reasons Why Our Schools Work” on the back, the Colts Neck High School auditorium was a sea of blue shirts and determined expressions.
The FREA four-year contract ends on June 30, according to Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent Charles Sampson. The Board will negotiate for a new contract in mediations on April 30 and again in May.
FREA President Debbie Gates-Kane addressed the Board of Education on behalf of the association’s members.
“We are the people that day in and day out before, during, and after school do the most important job - educate our youth and, in effect, shape the future of our society,” Gates-Kane said, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.
Gates-Kane went on to say that all of the district employees are dedicated to their demanding jobs and are effective at all of them. She said that the academic excellence of the students, the low drop out rate, high attendance records and high test scores are a direct reflection upon the district’s employees.
“While we certainly appreciate the compliments from our employers regarding the excellent job we do, in the end, words that are not accompanied by supporting actions are ultimately meaningless,” Gates-Kane said. “Members of the Board of Education, there is only one simple way to demonstration your respect and appreciation for the work that the members of the Education Association do, offer us a fair contract.”
Board of Education President Heshy Moses spoke on behalf of the Board telling the Education Association members that the Board is well aware that the teachers are the backbone of the system and that the Board will continue to bargain in good faith.
I give back by volunteering. No pay there either but the satisfaction of doing something for the community.
If you believe what the unions are telling you, by defintion, the teachers will not do as good a job if they don't get what they want as opposed to if they get what they want. The teacher who said that fire, police etc get lifetime medical is wrong. In Marlboro, there are no salaried or union positions that get post retirement health benefits. The fire and ambulance depts. are volunteer. The only ones who get paid are the Board of Fire Commissioners, why I don't know, but they do not get health benefits other than medical costs if injured in the line of duty. cont.
The whole push by teachers unions right now is to make up for them now having to help pay for their lifetime medical. Let's say a Marlboro teacher makes $80-85,000 for their 10 month job (most of them do). They now have to pay 1.5% of their salary for medical. That equals $1200-1275. It is tax deductible. I pay over $4800 and make about the same. The "we work hard" excuse is just that. Tell that to the guy who works in an unheated or cooled warehouse, industrial or construction job. Tell that to the retailer who stands for 8 hours a day and doesn't get "preparation". How about the salesman who is in and out of his car all day visiting his clients or the doctor who sees patients all day and knows that a whole bunch will never get better. You do not have the corner on hard work or even the moral high ground. You gave that up when you started using the "For the Children" nonsense.