FYI
Senate Republican News
 
KYRILLOS AND HANDLIN INTRODUCE MEASURE TO PERMIT
COUNTY EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT TO NEGOTIATE
CONTRACTS WITH DISTRICT EMPLOYEES
 
            Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth) introduced legislation today allowing local and regional school districts to designate the County Superintendent of Education as the employer representative in negotiations with school district employee unions.
 
            "In order to make any progress on property tax reforms we must meet the challenge of the increasing cost of educating our students, and we must do this without compromising the quality of that education," Kyrillos stated. "Eliminating the competition for the best contract between adjacent school districts will reduce some of the upward pressure on education costs."
 
            This bill provides that any local or regional school district may elect to have the county superintendent conduct negotiations on behalf of the district with any representative of employees of that district with regard to employee contracts for the 2012-2013 year and beyond. The school district may, at any time, terminate the agreement with the county superintendent unilaterally.
 
            "This is a common-sense measure that will help smaller districts negotiate on a more equal footing with the professional negotiators," Handlin continued. "This will result in a more equitable contract for the children, taxpayers and educators. It is a reform that is long overdue, I hope my colleagues see its value and support it as it moves through the legislative process."