A Message from the Mayor of Woodland Park

Write to Keith Kazmark at:
Mayor Keith Kazmark
BOROUGH OF
WOODLAND PARK
Municipal Building
5 Brophy Lane
Woodland Park, NJ
07424-2752
Send E-mail to:
kkazmark@wpnj.us
Telephone
973-345-8110

The Mayor’s office door
is open on Mondays for
meetings with any
Borough resident, but
due to his busy
schedule,appointments
are preferable.

Keith Kazmark
Mayor

   On May 15th, I hosted a town hall meeting with State Senator Kevin O’Toole at the Woodland Park Municipal Building. I’d like to thank the Senator for coming to Woodland Park and meeting with residents from our town and the surrounding area.
   Unfortunately, during this event, the Woodland Park Education Association (the teacher’s union) chose to make a spectacle out of the event with a demonstration outside the Municipal Building because their contract has not been renewed. What is very disheartening is that the WPEA would decide to protest an event of two elected officials who have nothing to do with negotiating their employment contract.
   As those who attended the town hall meeting entered the building they were given a letter, addressed to me, as Mayor, regarding the negotiations. In short, the letter questioned our town’s priorities when it comes to education and demanded that I insert myself, into the negotiation process between the WPEA and the Board of Education.

    They claim the local “Board of Education continues to shortchange education and, in turn, our children.” My questions to the WPEA are: Does your definition of “shortchanging education” mean that teachers have not been given a raise this year? Are you not teaching our students at your full potential today because you are working under a previous contract? Will an increase in salary cause you to become a better teacher of our children?
   The assertion that anyone is shortchanging education or our kids can only be made when referring to additional and new books, computers, materials, educational experiences and proper facilities. Trying to tie “quality education” and a “brighter future for our town as well as its children” to an increase in salary for WPEA members is selfish and attempts to use our children and their education as leverage to get more money.
   With regard to the negotiation process, the Mayor and Council are a completely separate entity from the Board of Education. We do not and cannot negotiate this contract. The Board of Education is autonomous – ask any civics teacher. With that in mind, as Mayor, I have encouraged both sides to meet in face-to-face negotiations for some time now. A resolution to this contract in a less aggressive way is beneficial to all parties – including our students.
   In 2011, I was endorsed for Mayor by the WPEA. I accepted that endorsement as I thought it was given because I, myself, am a former teacher; because my wife is an educator and a former member of the WPEA who taught at Beatrice Gilmore School; and because the membership felt that, as Mayor, I would work with the school district to create new programs, like we did with our Arbor Day event, and restore traditions, like the 8th Grade Youth Month program. It turns out I was wrong.
   The WPEA seems to have endorsed me because they feel I should “bend the arms” or, as one WPEA member stated, “compel” Board of Education members to settle this contract at their demanded 3.75% increase. Let me be clear – I don’t operate that way. It would be immoral, unethical and illegal. In fact, the State imposed tax levy cap is 2%. There is no way any public agency can settle for the numbers the WPEA are asking for and meet the imposed cap. It’s simply impossible and certainly unrealistic.
   The WPEA’s tactics in negotiating this contract publicly must also be called into question. WPEA members at two schools recently stripped the halls and bulletin boards of all student work. Home and School Association parents needed to come in to the buildings and re-hang all that was removed. I ask, how is that “doing the right thing for our most precious resource – our children”, as their letter reads?
   In March, Passaic Valley High School held a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity where the local teachers from Little Falls, Totowa and Woodland Park were asked to participate in a charity volleyball game. No one from the Woodland Park staff attended. It was downright embarrassing and was the talk of the tri-borough for days following.
   I’ve also been told by parents in our community that their children have been denied extra help after school in subjects they struggle with, because of the on-going negotiations. Again, I ask how are these “job actions” helping our students achieve?
   In closing, I truly believe that we have good and dedicated teachers and staff in our schools. These questionable actions are that of the Association leadership and their advisers, none of whom live in our town.
   I again encourage both sides to meet in face-to-face negotiations and settle this contract in accordance with the State mandated tax levy cap, and in a way that increases student achievement and truly provides a better education to our kids.

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