Bayonne BOE declines Davis’ offer to host teachers’ contract meeting

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The Bayonne Board of Education has declined Mayor Jimmy Davis’ offer to host a meeting at City Hall between reps from the board and the local teachers union in the midst of ongoing contract negotiations.

A photo of the Bayonne Board of Education taken from their meeting in May.
A photo of the Bayonne Board of Education taken from their meeting in May.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“Since the board is elected, the board decided to do this on our own without the aid of City Hall. We decided as a board that this is the right way to go,” said Bayonne BOE Trustee Mikel Lawandy, one of the members of the negotiations committee.

“We are trying to schedule the next meeting for November 16 at Bayonne High School. We will reach out to [Bayonne Teachers Association President] Alan D’Angelo on a weekly basis to settle this contract.”

Lawandy added that he wanted teachers and students to have the best working and learning environment possible, while still being able to keep taxes stable.

Bayonne BOE Trustee Mike Munoz added that the board hoped to instead hold the meeting at the board of education building, but the BTA preferred to wait until next week due to the annual New Jersey Education Association conference in Atlantic City this week.

In a statement, Davis said that he is encouraged that the BOE is moving forward with weekly meetings to find a resolution to this matter.

“I am hopeful that by the Board undertaking weekly negotiations with a renewed sense of urgency that a settlement is in the near future. I remain willing and able to assist in the process going forward if and where both sides see fit.”

Last week, Davis offered to host a meeting on teachers’ contract negotiations at City Hall, and while D’Angelo was open to it, it was unclear what the BOE would do, as only Hudson County View reported.

At the time, D’Angelo said that the teachers union was willing to meet with anyone that could help facilitate contract negotiations. The BTA is currently going on 15 months without a contract.


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