New Jersey School Boards Association is reporting that recent teacher contract settlements have dropped sharply since January, with annual salary increases averaging 2.03% since January and 1.58% from April to June.

The latter figure includes, according to the press release,

23 districts where teachers have agreed to a wage freeze for the 2010-2011 school year. Overall, since January, 42 teachers’ groups have agreed to a one-year pay freeze for the 2010-2011 school year, and an additional 43 districts have agreed to other givebacks and concessions.

So, about 7% of our 591 NJEA bargaining units have agreed to one-year pay freezes. Eighty percent of contracts are currently either in negotiation or at an impasse. Last, best offer, anyone? Legal fees for protracted negotiations would make any taxpayer swoon.