get rid of the unions.......

I also have heard the teachers have decided not to write letters of reccomendation. It's funny how the KEA claims to be in it for the kids. Unfortunately the teachers do not negotiate in good faith. When pressed they turn against the children of our community in retaliation for not getting what they want. I hope the BOE breaks the union and gets rid of the bad teachers. We all know the union is there to protect the worst teachers. Quality teachers do not need a union. I applaud the board for all it's efforts. Teachers, youu should be ashamed of yourselves real professionals would never behave this way.

As parents and taxpayers we need to unite and support the board. For too long the KEA has leveraged our children for higher pay and benefits stipends for everything pricing us out of our homes. We have supported the teachers in this community beyond reasonable and this is how they choose to behave. As parents and over burdened taxpayers lets tell the teachers their behavior is despicable and we support the board of ed in their quest to contain costs in these bad economic times. I would love to have a life time pension for myself and my spouse lifetime medical with $5 co pays and summers off. Have my advanced degree paid for by others. These unrealistic benefits we have supported for decades and they still want more, When they do not get what they want the punish our children. I would love to see every parent in Kinnelon go to the schools wearing a t shirt that says support the taxpayer and show united support for the BOE.

The KEA should not be stifling teachers from writing Letters of Recommendations or preventing teachers from attending graduation ceremonies for their students. They worked hard and looked up to their teachers to get to this point. However, I think the taxpayers need more information on the big picture to understand both sides of the table. Perhaps, the Patch can publish the wages and benefits for not only the Kinnelon teachers, but for administrators and the BOE members. Then publish alongside a similar breakdown for other neighboring school districts (teachers/administrators/BOE members) for comparison. From there, the taxpayers could make a true evaluation of situation and determine where the major costs lay and whether Kinnelon's salaries are competitive with others. Maybe, just maybe, the taxpayers may find that the school system is "top heavy" or is under scale to other school systems.

It would be a shame for these teachers who have taught and mentored these kids for 4 years and watched them grow into young adults to not attend or get involved in this special occasssion for the students. As educators, they should "want" to be there to support these young people of our community as they embark on their future endeavors. At some point the teachers need to "put aside" their differences with the Bd of Ed and "do whats right" for the young minds they haved shaped and for the young people who "look up to" these educators. I personally would think much less of the teachers in the HS should they choose not to attend. Teachers...- DO NOT tarnish the great reputation you have and the boatloads of respect you have from both students and parents alike. Rise above the conflict and step up and do whats right for the kids of our community.

Come on teachers...Is it about the Kids or the money and benefits? Over and over you reveal your true motivations. A real shame. I used to look up to my teachers.

So much for it being "about the kids"..... I hope the admin sticks it to the union. They need to open their eyes and realize times have changed.

They should be embarrassed by this and everyone in town should unite in showing our disgust.

Its all about the money.... have you ever heard a teacher not complain about how poorly they are treated? Its ridiculous, and they should be ashamed of themselves. They are only hurting the kids... as usual. Be thankful that you have the very lucrative jobs that you have, and compare your salary and benefits to others who work much longer hours and with the same or more educational backgrounds and skills. Please stop whining, and just realize how truly fortunate that you are all.

Teachers could learn something about character from the Ohio student athlete that helped a competitor who was hurt finish a race forcing her self to come last place.
http://larrybrownsports.com/high-school/runner-meghan-vogel-carry-finish-line-video/139732

Kea you could learn something on how to get community support.

This sounds a lot like what we went through when I graduated KHS in '69. There was a big battle between the BOE and the Teachers' Union and in the end a lot of teachers left rather than stay on. I believe that school administration had a lot to do with it too.

Ron - You bring up a very point which many of us are fearful about. There are a few very good and well respected teachers who I have spoken to (that truly don't make a lot of money by any stretch of the imagination) who are looking to leave Kinnelon. They have had enough of the negativity from the public and the BOE. I can't say I blame them. To them, it has nothing to do with not having a contract, but rather the complete lack of respect. I have lived here a long time and have never seen such teacher bashing in all my life. The departure of good teachers will have a negative impact on our schools and our children. I for one don't want to see good teachers leave! Why should they stay? We need to show the teachers of Kinnelon that we support them!

Give me a break! Do you really live here? I think this comment is BS. Because if you are a resident that doesn't teach here, you would realize that the parents (taxpayers) are who are paying the teachers salaries. We have very little ratables and our tax base is mostly the parents/residents. The parents are very involved in the school system and part of the team. I do not know any parents that do not respect the good teachers, unfortunately there are quite a few bad apples that keep getting shuffled around. I think the unemployment rate speaks for itself and the pool is pretty deep. It would be sad to see qualified teachers leave but they aren't irreplaceable with non-tenured teachers. Maybe they can get jobs in Abbott districts (which we pay for too) and get combat pay with no parental support. The grass is always greener.....

tom a hawk, no I am not a teacher there and while I no longer live in Kinnelon, I was raised there and went to school from Kindergarten at Kiel to graduating KHS. I know firsthand that the cost of living in Kinnelon is very high in comparison with other local communities and that the bulk of the tax dollar goes to education. Taxpayers and parents want the best education they can get for their child or children. If we all look back to when we were in school I'm sure that you can remember those teachers that wanted to make a difference in their student's life and those who were only there to draw a check. I won't be surprised if you can't remember the names of those that were there just for the money. I consider myself lucky as I have a bunch of great teachers and still correspond with them. But it's the same in every business.

Those teachers boycotting the Senior Graduation in protest of the School Board are doing what is called "posturing". It is a typical ploy used during negotiations and happens all the time, usually over an emotional issue. While both sides of the table use it, it is nothing more a temporary good feeling and a waste of time that could be used to find some common ground to work from. It does not surprise me when I hear stories of the teachers feeling they are being disrespected by the BOE. I know. They did it to me 42+ years ago when, as a student, I attended one of their meetings and raised a few questions about what was happening within the school only to have one member mock me and another make a flippant comment to me about my questions.
Lastly, there will be those teachers that will attend Senior graduation as a show of support to their students and there will be those who will "have better things to do". Teachers - your students will remember, like I did, of those who did attend the graduation. It's up to you to "do the right thing". Do it for the students, not the BOE.

While I work in the private sector. I can honestly say I work for the good of the company AND for my own personal gain. I don't separate the two. If the company does not thrive and survive, nor do I. I do plenty of uncompensated things for my company as I'm sure most of the commenters do. It's not union mentality though. Prior to my kids being in High School I VOLUNTEERED to help in the schools and worked long hours and Volunteered in the community. Unions are for the lazy.

And they get paid for every "five minutes". Let's all acknowledge they get a years pay for 3/4 year work. Some teachers choose to work the extra quarter. I can't believe that teachers don't see their day as a certain amount of compensation for a package of performance. i.e. come in early or stay late (scheduled or unscheduled) to help a student when not specifically written in the contract. Write a letter, even though it isn't written in the contract. Take a class or attend a seminar, with or without compensation, when it is not in the contract. It isn't just the teacher's union I'm fed up with. Those at the MVC, the DOT, etc. IMHO, All the unions are outdated and anti-american and hurtful to our economy. (generalized)

I do get your point. But given many Kinnelon kids benefit from tutors and SAT prep that other "poorer district" don't I'm not certain you can say Kinnelon's teachers are any better. I met a few I was not happy my children had. I'm quite certain you can say that in most districts. As far as Staten Island paying more...it's a matter of personal value. I would take a lower paying job closer to home than drive 40 min, an hour, even a half hour drive. Time/gas/miles/ all plays a part. Although not a teacher, if I were I know I would prefer a suburb over a city, and I would take less to work in a suburb.