The preliminary budget guidance for the municipal budget calls for a $400,000 + increase and a DECREASE of $200,000+ for the School Budget. As expected, one of the reasons stated for this discrepancy is that Town employees took a wage freeze for two years -- and the teachers didn't.
Freezing wages are not the solution to the Town's budget crisis -- but I don't disagree with the logic ... or the sentiment behind this decision to adjust the budget allocation. (Apparently the School Committee didn't disagree either -- they just sat mute during the discussion.)
It's unfortunate that the students will take yet another budget hit --- but I also think it is unfortunate that that it does not recognize the MANY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WHO DID TAKE A FREEZE. These are the employees that staff the maintenance, food service, and other operational areas, Most of them make far less than teachers and have far different working conditions -- yet they took a wage freeze to help the Schools and the Town -- with little or no recognition. (I don't believe they ever received the gift certificates offered to municipal employees!)
The principals, assistant principals, and Superintendent also took freezes. They made it clear they would never expect their staffs to do anything they wouldn't do themselves. (For the record -- the School Committee is NOT paid -- contrary to a series of statements from one of the local sports leagues -- who DOES PAY some of their "volunteers" !)
I would hope that the School Committee will soon publicly acknowledge those employee groups who have made wage concessions
6 comments:
As a Sandwich teacher, I was never given an opportunity to vote on a freeze.
Had I been asked, I certainly would have joined with the other Town employees. I am disgusted with the current leadership, from the bogus grievances to the ridiculous survey (I never got one!) to leaving us out in the cold on the wage negotiations.
I hope I have enough like-minded colleagues to make some changes this year.
I am disgusted by the fact that the town employees are taking a raise while cutting the school's budget. They should all be embarrassed.
What!
The Town employees have taken a freeze for 2 years -- the teachers union has continued demanding and receiving raises -- why shouldn't the Town employees get a raise? It's not their fault the Town has had miserable leadership for years.
The janitors and lunch ladies took a freeze -- and the teachers didn't. If you think that's fair, you must be president of the teachers union!!
8:46 your leader Laura Carlisle SEA President has not been honest with the teachers for years now. She has been found to outright lie many times to the teachers. The survey was a complete fabrication about Dr. Johnson
Ms. Carlisle is one of the most untrustworthy people we had ever had to work with.
Your leader needed to go years ago but the teachers obviously don't seem to care, otherwise they would take control and vote her out.
Good post Bob. Thanks for reminding us about the folks in the school district who did take a raise no doubt in solidarity with their fellow town employees in municipal government. I absolutely agree with you that salary freezes are not the solution to our budget crisis. Historically taking a "0" has meant an increased wage increase down the line. Those days are over, but I think that practice has left a bad taste in the mouths of some when it comes to the "taking a "0" talk" and what it means.
Statistics brought to the table last year by Randy Hunt and Jim Pierce again pointed out that the pay increases of the unions have kept pace with each other for the most part. The timing is always off in terms of who is where in their negotiations and that doesn't help. It never is even.
Bud has a much longer history with his employees and therefore a more trusted postition at the table. The BOS isn't in the negotiations. That isn't the case for the school district. The SC is represented at the negotiation table and we have now had three superintendants in the last 6 years. The long standing Teacher Union leader retired a few years ago.
I'm not surprized to hear someone upset the municipal employees are getting a raise, but the school union is still negotiating. Everybody has to work together in order to move forward and be realistic.
Salaries and benefits are the biggest part of any budget. We are no different. The state has the right to make modest plan design changes to their employee's insurance but the municipalities do not. In January, yet again legislation will be attempted that will give the towns the same right the state has. Our own Town Manager and all the Cape Town Managers agree that this is one of the most, if not the most, important budget saving measures we could hope to have. So we all need to lobby our legislators and the governor.
Lastly, it is sad to hear the teacher's comments above. I have heard this from other teachers. Clearly there seems to be a communitcation problem. I truly believe that if people would get out of their own way, they could let got to what would be better solutions for our community as a whole. The children will suffer. They already are. It is nothing any of us should be proud about. If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
The Truth Maker would like to add that if and when the courts intervene in the on going suit, we all will be facing another crisis in the school district.
The fact that the district now has less then $200,000 less then last year does not mean any teachers will get less in the paycheck. However should the contract increase, one can be assured that with all of the uncertanies we as a town are facing, a few teachers jobs will be lost and it will be the younger teachers that in many cases with a different mind set that will be lost.
It does not need to come down to that, but the Union will not allow a neutral situation to occur , because they lose a little face. So they will determine the outcome, outside of the very teachers in our system that do not agree with the union leadership. The voice they have will not be solicited and a small minority of the union members will determine the final outcome for every one.
One could call that a comunication problem , I would call it a contrivance in my opinion/
Perhaps it is time to go back to a 5 member board with some sort of monetary stipend, along with finding canadates that really and truely are concerned about the children in our town and not with vendettas.
Can it change, yes, but we need to except some things we can change and others we can not first.
It is close to Christmas, perhaps Santa will deliever us a package that when opened, will make all our problems go away. That would be a nice start for the new year.
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