Paychecks for teachers in New Jersey's largest school district will continue to rise. They'll also be spending more time with students.

Patch Staff

|Updated Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 10:08 am ET

NEWARK, NJ — A new, five-year contract between the Newark Public School District and its teacher union got an official sign-off this week.

The district’s deal with the Newark Teachers Union (NTU) – originally reached in May 2024 – was signed on Tuesday.

Paychecks for first-year teachers in New Jersey’s largest public school district will continue to rise under the new contract. Starting salaries for new teachers were raised to $65,000 when the contract first went into effect in July 2024. In the next school year, starting salaries will increase to $67,000 and climb to $74,000 by the fifth year.

District administrators previously said that the contract provides all NTU members with a 4.5 percent raise for each of the contract’s five years, plus additional increases for educators with master’s degrees/doctorates and those who have put in 35 or more years of service.

In addition, the tentative agreement includes salary increases for non-instructional staff, substitutes and hourly-pay employees.

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Students will also benefit, getting more time with their teachers – about 7.5 more days of student contact per year. Students will also have 30 hours of additional tutoring time per year under the new agreement, school administrators said.

To assist in the district’s ongoing efforts to combat a national teacher shortage, the contract provides the option of assigning teachers to a sixth period.

Superintendent Roger León, Board of Education President Hasani Council and NTU president John Abeigon were among those on hand for this week’s ceremonial contract signing.

“This is definitely a groundbreaking event,” said Yolanda Mendez, assistant superintendent of human resource services.

“This is what happens when we all come together, work diligently, and keep our focus on the children,” Mendez said.

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Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States, whether you want to stay in the U.S. or abroad.

Newark is the most convenient of the major travel options in the New York area.

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Talk about options. Newark connects people to major cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Dallas.

The most popular airlines out of EWR are Delta, American Airlines, and JetBlue.

How could Spirit not be tops? Kidding.

International travel is as smooth as it gets at Newark Airport.

Getting direct flights is nice, especially when your trip exceeds the six-hour mark.

Newark has many non-stop flights to Europe, Asia, South America, and more.

You can fly directly to London, Paris, Tokyo, and even Dubai.

Popular international airlines out of Newark include British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, and Air Canada.

For the most part, Newark Airport offers a pleasant experience. It's as nice as boarding a plane can be.

ALSO READ: These States are Sending the Most People to New Jersey

Newark Terminals A, B, or C offers various dining, shopping, and lounge options.

Recent modernizations have improved the overall experience with upgraded facilities and expanded security checkpoints. Thank goodness.

The AirTrain connects the airport to NJ Transit and Amtrak, making it easily accessible from New York and New Jersey. A pro tip: use public transportation to avoid so many headaches.

Whether you're traveling for business or fun, Newark provides a convenient and (mostly) hassle-free gateway to destinations around the world.

Have you ever been sitting waiting to board your flight and wondered where people are traveling to?

Stacker crunched the numbers of domestic flights to come up with our countdown.

The number one spot initially surprised me, but after thinking about it, it made sense.

The Top Domestic Destinations from Newark Liberty Airport

Total passengers rank destinations from October 2022 to September 2023.

19 Items Absolutely Banned from Checked Bags at NJ, NY and PA Airports

You may be familiar with what you can and cannot pack in your carry-on. But how familiar with items banned from your checked luggage? These are 19 of the more than 50 items that can't fly in your checked bag according to the TSA.

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

Sihana Bistro, a new day-to-night café has opened within Newark Urby. Located in the heart of Downtown Newark and across from Rutgers University, the café is open daily for Brunch, Lunch and Dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Brought to life by local operators Kreshnik Berisha and David Khabuliani Sihana Bistro brings a blend of Mediterranean and Georgian-inspired cuisine to Newark Urby and the broader community, continuing the founders’ mission of creating spaces that celebrate Newark’s rich diversity while addressing community needs.

This new concept is the latest venture from the team behind the Ironbound’s Sihana Café and Five Corners Ristorante, both beloved Newark institutions.

David Barry, founder and CEO of Urby, said the opening Sihana Bistro at Newark Urby is about how the community, not just the building’s residents, but at large, interacts with the space.

“I think one of the knocks on development often is it disrupts the flow of a neighborhood,” Barry said. “We’re committed to this public-facing bistro, where there’s a local operator, a local team, that’s really stitching together the existing community of Newark with the new residents in the new building. Kreshnik and David have built an impressive legacy in Newark, blending culinary excellence with a heartfelt commitment to community enrichment, and we’re thrilled to have them continue that legacy here.”

Sihana Bistro’s menu pays homage to the Mediterranean culinary traditions of Newark’s Ironbound while infusing Georgian flavors and inspirations from surrounding regions. The café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, complemented by an extensive selection of cocktails, wine, and beer, with menu items.

In addition to its menu, Sihana Bistro offers guests a hands-on culinary experience with interactive cooking classes. Participants don a chef’s jacket and hat as they join an intimate class led by a friendly instructor, exploring kitchen techniques, food safety, and plating artistry. Each class culminates in a three-course meal of their own creation, complete with a bottle of wine and a plating competition where winners receive gift card prizes. Reservations are required.

“Newark is not just where we work — it’s home,” said Kreshnik Berisha, founder of Sihana. “Sihana Bistro represents our continued commitment to this incredible city and its people. At Newark Urby, we have the opportunity to create something that connects residents, visitors, and the broader community through food, art, and culture.”

NEWARK, N.J. -- A New Jersey man is accused of threatening passengers and crew members onboard a flight to Newark from Miami, Florida.

Federal prosecutors charged 27-year-old Luis Vaquero, of Passaic County, with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants by assault or intimidation. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

"Over the course of a 3-hour flight, we allege Vaquero lost his temper and physically harassed not only the crew and captain, but passengers, making threats of physical violence toward a disabled minor and mocking a group of Jewish passenger," Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly said in a statement. "It all culminated in a terrifying attack and attempted breach of the flight deck when witnesses say he banged on the cockpit door and confronted the pilot. The harrowing flight and other similar incidents onboard airplanes recently are creating tension and fear for fliers and crew members. FBI Newark has a warning for those who think it may not be a big deal—they're breaking federal law, and they will be brought to justice."

Prosecutors said Vaquero started harassing and threatening passengers shortly after takeoff on Feb. 9. He allegedly mocked a group of Jewish passengers and threatened physical violence toward a minor with disabilities.

He is also accused of threatening a crew member who refused to serve him alcohol after beverage service had ended, telling her in part, "You better watch out."

Once the flight landed at Newark Liberty International Airport, the crew alerted law enforcement to meet the plane. Prosecutors said when Vaquero heard the announcement that law enforcement was on the way, he started banging on the cockpit door and demanded to see the pilot. He's accused of threatening to break a crew member's jaw and threatening the pilot while just inches from his face.

Vaquero was escorted off the plane and taken into custody. He later appeared in federal court and was released.

Renee Anderson

Renee Anderson is a digital producer at CBS New York, where she covers breaking news and other local stories. Before joining the team in 2016, Renee worked at WMUR-TV.

NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) – A New Jersey man allegedly banged on a cockpit door and confronted the pilot during a “terrifying” incident on an airplane in Newark Sunday, authorities said.

Luis Vaquero, 27, of Passaic County, was arrested after he allegedly threatened flight attendants, crew members and passengers on the airplane, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

Vaquero allegedly began threatening and harassing various passengers shortly after the flight took off from Miami, prosecutors said.

Vaquero also allegedly threatened a flight crew member who declined to serve him alcohol after the beverage service window ended, according to prosecutors.

Flight attendants alerted law enforcement after the plane landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. When Vaquero heard the announcement that the airplane was awaiting the arrival of law enforcement, he allegedly forced his way to the front and began banging on the flight deck door, prosecutors said.

Vaquero allegedly demanded that the pilot come outside, and he threatened to break a flight attendant’s jaw when they tried to intervene, according to prosecutors.

When the captain emerged from the cockpit, Vaquero allegedly continued to threaten him until law enforcement arrived and took him away, prosecutors said.

“Over the course of a three-hour flight, we allege Vaquero lost his temper and physically harassed not only the crew and captain, but passengers, making threats of physical violence toward a disabled minor and mocking a group of Jewish passenger,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly. “It all culminated in a terrifying attack and attempted breach of the flight deck when witnesses say he banged on the cockpit door and confronted the pilot.”

Vaquero was charged with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants by assault or intimidation. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

“The harrowing flight and other similar incidents onboard airplanes recently are creating tension and fear for fliers and crew members. FBI Newark has a warning for those who think it may not be a big deal — they’re breaking federal law, and they will be brought to justice,” Reilly said.

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than six years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.