Comments on: Teachers Decline to Reopen Contract; District Prepares to Cut Budget

By: David Silverstone

David Silverstone — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:28:49 +0000

It should be quite clear that neither the MTA or the BOE in the Mamaroneck School District have any grasp of the reality surrounding us. An extraordinary number of residents in Our Town including both Villages are unemployed. That includes not only middle class families but upper class as well. How in the world does the BOE expect us to pay our taxes if they have contracted to provide the teaching faculty of our schools with salary increases, health benefits and job security that most Americans no longer have. Those of us who moved to Larchmont to give our children a fine education can no longer afford gold hand-carved School signs, I.M.Pei like atrium entrances to MHS, facilities that rival the finest private four-year colleges and universities and a fierce swat team of athletic coaches and teachers who will stop at nothing to get the budgets they think they need. Meetings to review the budget are a total waste of taxpayer time if the BOE has no ability to persuade the MTA to try to be reasonable. The BOE has no self-control over their need to hire consultants and the most expensive search firm in the country. Are there no people in our communities and the educational system who have the backbone to say “NO”. As a person who developed and taught “Creative Problem Solving” for college seniors and graduate students, I loved to teach. I accepted what our school system’s teachers would call petty cash. Teaching was and should be the greatest reward.

By: Anon E Mous

Anon E Mous — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:08:55 +0000

Rage is the only quality which has kept me, or anybody I have ever studied, writing columns for newspapers. – Jimmy Breslin.

So our relatively small school district is paying a search firm to conduct a national search for a new superintendent to be paid a salary exceeding that of the chancellor of the NYC school system. But the new superintendent won’t be allowed to lead and manage our school district and the education of the students.

So the school district, i.e. ‘we’, are paying an ‘administration’ to lead and manage our schools and the education of the students.

As it appears from what ‘they’ and apparently the contract the district agreed to may also say, prevents our ‘leadership’ and ‘administration’ from running the schools. Or perhaps it permits them to run the schools, but just not to lead the education of the students

Just who is running the asylum?

let me think – Certainly hope the ‘contract’ permits you to do that

Frug Al – Yes, at least a leaf from the pages of the NYC school system. Of course, sure you remember that the Mayor of NYC went to Albany to take responsibility for the education of the students in the city; leadership! Perhaps NYC can transmit some leadership skills too.

Just maybe, we should not even be having or running a small school district here, there are alternatives – let us think

Remember the words of Alexandre Ledru-Rollin, ‘There go my people. I must find out where they are going so I can lead them.’

By: Frug Al

Frug Al — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:54:24 +0000

“the contract prevents any schedule changes at a secondary school unless two thirds of the teachers there approve”. Who agreed to such an insane provision?
We should take a leaf from Mayor Bloomberg and tell teachers they have a choice between a pay cut and layoffs.

By: let me think

let me think — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:39:44 +0000

One of the FAQ I did not see answered on the District Budget websites pages is how on earth the taypayers and parents are led to pay for the salary and benefits of the President of the Teachers’ Union. Surely, and especially in light of her conflicted and unhelpful attitude, ehe has no place on the payroll (see http://www.mamkschools.org/education/sctemp/ce7bfbe22bc5e544c2f9aaaae9570905/1264750600/Superintendents_Final_Budget_2009-2010.pdf, p.73). If the Union members wants a President, they can pay for it themselves.

Also, a few years (looks like decades) ago, two guidance counselors were reassigned pending review of their status. Are they still drawing salaries and benefits doing nothing of relevance? When will this end and why are we not informed? ref here http://larchmontgazette.com/2008/articles/20081030hmxcounselors.html

By: Anon E Mous

Anon E Mous — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:14:27 +0000

I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly. (Michel Eyquem de Montaigne).

And now, unfortunately, on with the show.

But there’s no more money for increased ticket prices.

And forget about educating students — those things like economics, conflict resolution, community.

By: Ralph Petrillo

Ralph Petrillo — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:26:48 +0000

Mayor Bloomberg is cutting $5 billion from NYC budget and has offered the teachers unions two choices. Either except a 2% pay cut or face layoffs. Isn’t there an easier way in our area, if the pay could just be frozen for three years with no one being fired. In addition top pay above $150,000 could be cut by 10 to 15%. Currently salaries, benefits, and retirement pay equals approximately 85% of the budget, So if it was frozen then taxes would not have to rise, which would benefit many homeowners who are struggling with their taxes. If the remaining 15% of the budget was cut by 10% a year over the next three years. So in effect expenses could be reduced by 1.5% a year or 4.5% over the next three years. tax reductions could be made. if all personnel accepted a pay freeze for three years, those earning above $150,000 would take a 10 to 15% pay cut, and the remaining 15% of the budget not related to teaching expenses was cut by 10% a year over the next three years. Tough times call for prudent action. With this approach no one would have to lose their job, and expenses would be cut so that homeowners would not have tax increases.