State to mediate in school contract talks Session set for feb. 13. Both sides in P'burg refuse to compromise over salaries, other issues. Tuesday, January 23, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | A face-to-face meeting between school district negotiators and the teachers union has left both sides on course for a Feb. 13 meditation session. Representatives from each side met Jan. 17 in what was school board Attorney Don Morrow's first negotiating session. Monday night, Phillipsburg Education Association President Barbara English called the session extremely disappointing and a slap in the face. "We were duped," English said. When English finished her remarks to the school board, more than 60 teachers in attendance erupted in applause. Union members showed up wearing blue association T-shirts. The contract fight centers on salaries, length of work day and health benefits. "I was expecting them to come back with movement on their proposals," English said. The next meeting will be state mediation on the night of Feb. 13. Board negotiations committee Chairman Kevin DeGerolamo said both sides aren't budging too much, though he thinks this can end at mediation. "They were pretty firm on some of their positions; the board is still firm on their positions," DeGerolamo said. "Both sides are pretty set in stone right now." Before English's remarks, Morrow said he thought the Jan. 17 meeting was very good. "I think if everybody uses their best efforts we should make some movements in the right direction," Morrow said. English said the union, which represents about 350 teachers, is not ready to go to tactics like advertising or limiting extra-curricular involvement. "After first mediation that will be a turning point," English said. The median salary for the district in 2005-06 was $56,218, according to the state Department of Education. The state median average for a K-12 district is $52,061. Joining the teachers at Monday night's board meeting were secretaries, custodians and other school workers. The negotiating committee has to begin contract talks with paraprofessionals, administrators and supervisors in the next few weeks. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used by NJ.com with permission.