Christie and Cerf have become a bad cop, good cop duo in dealing with the NJEA. For now, Christie has stopped issuing political fusillades against the union during press conferences, while Cerf has been talking with NJEA leaders about policy changes.

The NJEA has also reversed course and met to talk with George Norcross. Last spring, the NJEA launched a series of ads against Norcross, and he responded by holding a news conference to blast the union. “To some degree, the NJEA has seen the light,’’ said Lynne Strickland, who represents suburban school districts as executive director of the New Jersey Coalition of Schools. “To move forward with their own positions, they recognize they need to be at the table.” (Asbury Park Press.)