Belmar teacher encourages
Middletown to stand strong

There seem to be some misconceptions in Middletown. The Middletown Township Education Association does not contribute to their health benefits package. This is not true for many other districts in Monmouth County. Yes, many people working in the private sector also contribute to their health benefits. Many of these people also take home a much larger salary with a yearly bonus added to it. I am referring to those with at least a four-year college degree.

The Middletown teachers are not asking to not contribute; they just do not want an unfair increase in their contributions. They are also seeking an average salary increase over three years. These requests do not seem unreasonable. Maybe this is why the Middletown Board of Education refuses to go to binding arbitration. This is when a third party is called in to decide what is fair for both sides. The decision then becomes binding. If the teachers are willing to settle this way, why isn’t the board? Could it be the settlement would be fair?

Shame on you, Middletown Board of Education members, for not agreeing to settle in a fair manner. Is it because you find the effects amusing — jailing your teachers, spending unnecessary tax dollars to incarcerate these teachers, breaking up families, inconveniencing residents, and pitting people against each other? I wonder how you sleep at night knowing what you have done to your community.

I feel extremely fortunate to work in a district (Belmar) and reside in a town (Spring Lake Heights) that have Boards of Education that value their teachers and respect their community members. I am a proud member of the N.J. Teachers Association. Middletown teachers, you are not alone in your quest for an equitable contract. Stand strong!

Jackie Clark

Belmar Teachers Association