Teachers Take to the Sidewalk, Picket Linda Stender

Barely an hour after the final bells rang in public schools across the district, nearly 100 educators gathered on the sidewalk in front of Assemblywoman Linda Stender's office in Scotch Plains. In their hands, they carried white placards that glinted in the afternoon sun, the messages written in neat blue marker by hands seasoned by years at the blackboard: "No school vouchers!" the signs read. "No to Christie's cuts!" "Support our Schools!"

At 3:45 p.m., the group started to march; a quiet, double-file line of teachers, aides, and special educators that filled the sidewalk. Drivers turned to gawk, some honking as they drove past. Kids on bikes waved to the teachers they recognized.

Educators from Scotch Plains-Fanwood public schools, Winfield public schools, and the Union County Vocational Technical Schools–all members of Stender's 22nd legislative district –came together Wednesday as part of a county-wide protest organized by the Union County chapter of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). In the 20th, 21st, and 29th districts, educators picketed outside the offices of their local state legislators, calling for their representatives to oppose Gov. Chris Christie's latest budget and education initiatives.

"The Governor's proposed budget cuts and proposed tax cap threatens many of NJ's quality educational and other public services," said Dominick Giordano, president of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Education Association, and a teacher at Terrill Middle School, in a written statement. "The Governors [sic] relentless agenda continues to take aim at the salaries, pensions, and benefits of these hard working [sic] employees that earn them fair and square."

The Union County chapter of the NJEA announced the demonstration three weeks ago, specifically as a protest of Christie's proposed budget cuts and 2.5 percent tax cap. But when Christie abruptly scuttled an agreement with the NJEA yesterday regarding the state's application for federal funds, the protestors' focus shifted to Christie's withdrawal from the deal.

"I'm dismayed," said Evelyn Doherty, a third-grade teacher at Coles Elementary School. "I'm not happy with the way the present administration is trying to change everything at once. He's discouraging many, many people from going into the profession."

Last week, education commissioner Bret Schundler and NJEA representatives hammered-out an agreement regarding New Jersey's application for up to $400 million in funds from President Barack Obama's "Race to the Top" program. According to the agreement, seniority would remain a factor when determining layoffs, and student achievement would count for half of a teacher's evaluation, instead of the 51 percent originally proposed by Christie and Schundler.

But on Tuesday, Christie discarded Schundler's compromise with the NJEA, publicly criticized the education commissioner, and submitted a revised application that discarded most of the union's recommendations. At the protest in front of Stender's office Wednesday afternoon, educators voiced a mix of anger, shock, and disappointment. 

"Teaching is a collaborative mission, and we feel he's creating an environment of competition," said Camille Berkowicz, first vice president of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Education Association, referring to Christie's emphasis on merit and student achievement instead of seniority. "When you're in a building working next door to each other, you need collaboration."

Frank Furino, associate president of the Union County Vocational Technical Schools, agreed. "I worked in the corporate world, we used competition, I did merit raises. It's a very difficult job."

Berkowicz and Furino met with Stender in her office at 4 p.m. Details of that meeting to follow later today. Stay tuned.