New Jersey is a collective bargaining state, which requires Districts/Boards of Education to negotiate salaries, benefits and all other terms and conditions within the scope of negotiable topics.

For months, we have been urging the Paterson Board of Education to offer salary proposals that demonstrate their respect and commitment to Paterson educators, and, for months, their salary proposal remains at zero percent.
It’s important to note that anytime a salary settlement is reached, salary guides are mutually developed by both parties.
Failing to negotiate a successor agreement does not help the turnover problem…in a profession where educators are already dealing with myriad issues, funding shortages and political pundits’ criticisms, the fact that we cannot get our Board of Education to acknowledge our value in bargaining has really had an impact on whether educators choose to remain in Paterson.