Schools

UPDATE: KEA Negotiations May Go Into New School Year

Union representatives, board of education meet with fact-finder Monday.

The ongoing negotiations between the Kinnelon Education Association (KEA) and Kinnelon Public Schools Board of Education regarding a new contract for KEA members could go into the upcoming school year, a union representative said.

"We do not expect a report before late October based on the process," Vickie Walsh, a field representative of the New Jersey Education Association, said on behalf of the KEA.

While Walsh said no additional meetings have been scheduled, after the fact-finder completes their report in the fall, each party will review it and have 10 days to either accept or reject it. Both parties met with the state-appointed fact-finder for a formal hearing Monday that lasted more than six hours.

Find out what's happening in Tri-Borowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The parties presented information to the fact-finder during a formal hearing," Walsh said. "We agreed to keep the lines of communication open to see if a voluntary settlement can be reached while we wait for his report."

Interim Superintendent Diane DiGiuseppe said no settlement has been reached but could not comment on what was discussed during Monday night's meeting.

Find out what's happening in Tri-Borowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Walsh has said previously that the two main items the parties of the entire year the KEA has been working on an expired contract are salaries and the weeks of vacation for custodial staff. Many teachers and KEA members while the negotiations have


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