Teacher Salaries To Increase 3.4% In Chatham Under New Contract

CHATHAM, NJ — Teachers in the School District of the Chathams will see an increase in compensation.

At the board meeting on Monday night, the Chatham Board of Education adopted its newly negotiated five-year contract with the Chatham Education Association, which represents teachers, aides and secretaries.

The Chatham Education Association membership ratified the new collective bargaining agreement last Tuesday, and the board made it official on Monday night.

The school board discussed and voted for the 5-year agreement, which includes a 3.4 percent yearly compensation raise.

Betsy Long, the co-president of the Chatham Education Association, said that the agreement is one of the strongest in Morris County.

Jill Critchley Weber, President of the Chatham Board of Education, stated that the agreement was achieved after nine months of negotiations.

"It's very arduous, and everyone wants to get to a good place, and it just takes time... It's impossible to please everybody in pretty much every situation during the lengthy negotiations, but all parties worked together respectfully in a manner to achieve this final deal," Weber said.

Along with the yearly wage rise, the new contract will contain an "initial investment" to the salary guide for teachers at the first three levels, with the goal that better-starting salaries will entice instructors to the district.

"There were also some reductions in the health benefits... that saved about $200,000 annually, and there was also an increase in coaching and advisor positions to attract and retain some of those key positions," Weber said.

The school board voted on the measure unanimously.