There is a whistling past the graveyard quality to talk of a "pay freeze" for teachers.
This is not really a freeze as there are still step increases and with the employer paying all or nearly all of health premiums, the increases in that area still represent hikes in compensation for employees. If you are contributing 3% towards health care, the employer absorbs 97% of the premium increase, creating an increase in compensation even when the headlines read that pay is "frozen."
So there is no freeze.
Also the "freeze" creates false expectations about future raises and there is the implicit promise that no COLA this year will "save jobs".
While I am not suggesting this is an appropriate or fair approach here, a few years back a local broadcaster imposed a $25% salary cut in order to stay afloat. No one quit.
My point is that nibbling around the edges approaches being proposed will not deliver as promised for those who want schools to stay as they are.
The people in charge are paid well, but often serve as advocates for the status quo rather than agents of change..They are not visionaries and have little or no experience outside a cloistered world. And in their defense, the systems and laws in place are so daunting that often there is little that can be done.
And of course there is also the argument that if things are fine and the service provided is of value, then hiking school property taxes is OK. Quit hiding the true cost by funding so much of the budgets with state aid.
There are a lot of big issue but little gets discussed when the discussion is about such little items.
Watertown Daily Times Salary freezes asked of teachers
11 comments:
The dude dated a young girl that he used to see going on the school bus next door to his house... So I'm not so much in love with his actions anymore...He's a werdio.
I think you’re wrong Mayor. The teachers and administration know very well that a pay freeze will prevent “draconian” cuts to the system and my sense is they will do what ever is necessary “for the children”.
Keep a line open on the Hotline today…Addie is sure to phone in, voice all aquiver, pronouncing the teachers are saving our future.
This is yet another example of the WDT being dishonest in how they are defining the discussion. This simply fits into their cheerleading campaign to avoid reality and bend over to the teacher union. The increases are built in and guaranteed. Well done, Mr Johnson. Anyone who purchases this rag is a fool.
I understand that there are people who are not happy about folks, like myself, who question the education system budget, and often go on a tangent that we are against teachers; which is not the case. Folks, like myself, are only asking why can we not get our spending under control, even at schools,which in my opinion, have been modeled much like a layered government instution. Addie, you say our kids are going to suffer; but haven't our kids suffered long enough , to rank at #35?. It's obvious, that being #1 in spending, someone is getting an education, but it sure isn't the "attention" of the students.
Now we are getting somewhere. Wish the local paper would print a chart of who pays what in the towns and schools, who pays what percentage etc. NO one seems to want to talk about that issue, how much of a budget is actually benefits and saleries for employees, vs services for the public, more in municipal government then schools, but still alot going on in the schools, but is a hush hush topic.
same thing happens in the towns that use sales tax to fund their operations, thus having no tax locally , but shifting everyting to the county, and making things look real sweet by hiding the real cost of what is going on.. but who goes to budget hearings? no one. and few know what is going on. Status quo? you bet. And those who do say something are squashed.
"Quit hiding the true cost by funding so much of the budgets with state aid."
Does that mean you'll save the state money by rejecting municipal aid for the city of Watertown?
Is there anyone in the State of New York who needs to take a salary cut besides Teachers? The only people we talk about day after day, is those overpaid teachers. Those supposedly overpaid Teachers need to start voting a few jaded politicians out of office and vote in some pro education candidates. This has gone far enough, find someone else to abuse Mayor with your sarcasm day after day.
MCM
MMM I dont think there is you must remember the economic elite of the north country is mostly teachers and CO's and Troopers. So there it is, Although a teacher has to pay off there education. But we always like your insight into the problem.
If the schools were dependent for their funding from just school taxes...they would all close. The schools are the most "layered" form of covering taxes that is evident anywhere today. Administrators live in their bubble and have no actual idea what to hell is happening out in our world. Being held hostage by teachers contracts and health benefits and then trying to convice the constiuents that everything is OK...has just fallen apart. Ranking very low in state in quality of education..and very high in expense should say something. Money is not the answer.
MCM Keep kissing up to the unions,They have done such a good job of stealing money from our Children. Rich hit the nail on the head with His post.
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