From the Daily Record – May 29, 2009 (Written by Rob Jennings)

Parsippany school board weighs wage hikes, 3-year pact for administrators

The school board was poised to adopt Thursday night a three-year contract with the union representing approximately 30 principals, assistant principals and supervisors in the K-12 district.

The agreement, which would take effect July 1, would authorize annual pay raises of 4.5 percent, 4.3 percent and 4.4 percent.

The board’s negotiating committee, led by president Anthony Mancuso, signed off on the deal April 1 — nearly three weeks before voters defeated the $132 million proposed school budget for 2009-10. Some voters who opposed the budget cited their disapproval of recent contract agreements with the teachers and secretaries who received more than four percent annual raises.

Mancuso, though, said the eight weeks between the tentative agreement with the Association of Parsippany School Administrators and public disclosure of the proposed contract had nothing to do with wanting to avoid a third controversial vote before the April 21 election.

Mancuso said other factors, including the board’s need to hold a reorganization meeting following the school board election, caused the delay.

He added that the APSA union representing the principals, assistant principals and supervisors, agreed to the same health care concession as the teachers and secretaries. Starting July 1, association members will switch from the traditional health care plan to the less-costly preferred provider organization plan, which Mancuso said would result in a sizeable savings to the district.

Board member Robert Crawford, who has opposed the board majority on a wide range of issues, said he would be voting against the agreement.

“We ignored the economic reality, what this town is going through,” said Crawford, who is running in the Republican primary for the town council next Tuesday.