HACKENSACK, N.J. (NorthJersey.com) -- It may be the start of the school year but many school districts and local teachers unions have yet to sign contracts.
Nearly 115 districts in the state are fighting over salary increases, health care costs and work schedules -- key issues for teachers and taxpayers.
According to the New Jersey School Boards Association, the average teacher salary increase this year is 4.65 percent, down slightly from 4.7 percent last year.
The raises are still higher than the national cost of inflation, which from July 2005 to July 2006 ran at 4.1 percent.
However, the inflation rate for the New York metro area was five percent.
The Record of Bergen County reports that of New Jersey's 593 school districts, 193 required new pacts this fall.
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