Groundbreaking Contract Between NPS And NTU Signed

NEWARK, N.J. – It’s done.

Newark Public Schools’ five-year agreement with the Newark Teachers Union (NTU) that was reached in May and later ratified by the Board of Education and NTU members was officially signed on Tuesday – by Superintendent León, Board of Education President Hasani K. Council, NTU President John M. Abeigon, and members of both negotiating teams.

“This is definitely a groundbreaking event,” said Dr. Yolanda Mendez, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resource Services as she welcomed everyone to the Central Office Building. “This is what happens when we all come together, work diligently, and keep our focus on the children.”

The agreement is the third successfully negotiated contract with the NTU and the 17^th successful contract with the District’s nine unions under Superintendent León’s leadership. Starting salaries for new teachers were raised to $65,000 when the contract first went into effect in July 2024. In the next school year, starting salaries will increase to $67,000 and climb to $74,000 by the fifth year.

The contract is much more than a well-earned salary increase. It implements a collaborative governance structure that clarifies and redefines roles with school leadership councils at every school. It provides consistency across all schools regardless of type and all members regardless of title. It clarifies, rather than changes, existing terms and conditions, and it deletes provisions that are redundant, unclear, or confusing.

Also, it provides competitive compensation to attract talent, fosters commitment to the District to retain staff, incentivizes staff to obtain advanced degrees, and maintains a competitive edge beyond the life of the contract.

Students are also beneficiaries of the contract as it provides them with more time with their teachers – approximately 7.5 more days of student contact per year, which equals 37.5 more days of student contact over the duration of the contract.  Students will also have 30 hours of additional tutoring time per year as a result of the contract.

To assist in the District’s ongoing efforts to combat the national teacher shortage, the contract provides the option of assigning teachers to a sixth-period.

“This contract is successful for its members because it is consistent with the first of our five core values – keeping students at the center,” said Superintendent León.

“I thank everyone in this room for their hard work,” said NTU President Abeigon.

BOE President Council also praised the agreement.

“While other school districts are having issues providing resources for their teachers, we are enabling our teachers to thrive because they are our front-line workers,” President Council said.