The Northvale Education Association and the Board of Education have agreed not to discuss any of the details surrounding the current contract negotiations.

Yet we believe it is imperative for the public to know what is going on at the bargaining table. It is our community members who will be the ones left to pay for any salary increases. While both sides have the right to withhold this information out of respect for the taxpayers the details should be made public.

The Northvale teachers have been working without a new contract. Negotiations started March 2007. Since then both sides have met, but have failed to reach a deal. According to last week’s Suburbanite article teachers are concerned about their salary, health benefits and tuition reimbursement for college — but to what extent?

Taxpayers already know and understand that supporting public education isn’t cheap and that at the end of the day, the new contract will cost residents more. So really, there is no need for secrecy.