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Teachers and district reach memorandum of agreement; parties prepare for ratification
Summary
Representatives of the New Jersey Education Association and Roselle Park school officials said negotiators reached a memorandum of agreement to settle contract talks; the agreement will proceed to ratification and was the subject of multiple public acknowledgments and thanks at the board meeting.
Representatives of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and Roselle Park school officials said negotiators have reached a memorandum of agreement to resolve contract negotiations; the agreement will move to a ratification step.
John Street, a representative of the NJEA, told the board, "I'm really happy we did not end up filing the impasse paperwork because I am thrilled ... that we have a memorandum of agreement." The union asked the board and administration to prepare for ratification of the agreement.
Multiple speakers at the public-participation portion thanked negotiators from both sides and described the deal as the product of a collaborative process. Frank Agliardo, a parent and community member, and Nick Agolia, who identified a Roselle Park address, both publicly thanked Superintendent Goyce, board negotiators and school staff for completing the talks.
Board President Dr. Brittany Kirkland and other board members acknowledged the work of the negotiation committee and expressed appreciation for district staff and teachers. At least one board member noted the agreement was a forward step and that ratification and future contract years remain to be negotiated.
The meeting record shows no formal ratification vote by the board or the union membership took place during the public session. In public remarks, union representatives said the next step would be preparation for ratification. No financial or term details of the memorandum were read into the public record during the meeting; the transcript and agenda referenced the existence of a memorandum of agreement but did not include the MOA text or specific contract language for public review at the meeting.
Speakers at the meeting also linked the agreement to recent local remembrance: a tree-planting in honor of Bernadine Schultz, a longtime negotiation chair, was mentioned publicly in the same timeframe as the agreement, and some speakers said that timing was meaningful to the community.
The board did not take a formal vote on the memorandum at this meeting. Any formal approvals, ratification votes or contract summaries should be expected in a future board meeting or in ratification materials distributed to union members.
