The following is reprinted from an anonymous post on The Ridgewood Blog 4/18/10:
...Unfortunately, some people don't seem to understand the implications of this vote.
First, a "NO" vote does not "send a message" to anyone. It does not have an impact on teachers benefits or their raises for next year. It simply means that the budget will get turned over to the Village Council (who know NOTHING about the school's needs or situations) to determine the amount of the tax for next year. They can assign ANY tax rate they want. They can increase the budget and raise taxes more, or they can cut the budget and limit the taxes. They are accountable to NO ONE on this issue. The most likely outcome is that they cut the budget more and reduce taxes, which will result in further teacher cuts...unfortunately, they will be the newer and more enthusiastic teachers, who most of us would prefer to have teaching our children. I, for one, do not want Annie Z or Keith K making any decisions about my children's education.
A "YES" vote simply preserves the budget that the BOE has presented with its existing cuts for next year. This does not send a message to anyone either. However, it ensures that the people, who are most knowledgeable about our school system, are making the decisions about how much and what to cut. This vote ensures guarantees that we do not cut any more teachers, that have already been proposed. While some of us would like to see some tenured teachers, who are in "coasting" mode lose their jobs, that will not happen, regardless of the voting results.
Note from Laurie:
This is basically the exact post I intended to write today, so thank you to "anonymous" for saving me some time. I have been so frustrated all weekend, whenever I heard someone say they want to vote "no" in order to teach the REA "a lesson." I just don't see the logic in that. And I've listened to enough comments from teachers to feel that for many of them, no matter how bad it gets, they're dug in for the long haul (or at least until the next contract negotiation).
Please vote YES on Tuesday. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Results will be posted as soon as they are known.
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5 comments:
Unfortunately Laurie, a no vote does indeed send a message - we have lost confidence in the Board and Superintendent.
I'm sad to say that the Board at large has lost my confidence.
I'm not being purposely obtuse, but I would truly like to understand your comments further. Perhaps if you would contact me non-anonymously, we could have a conversation and you could deliver your message to me directly.
Any time --
Lauriegood@mac.com
201-493-9193
For all your talk of "thinking outside the box," you guys on the BOE are lead around by the nose, believing everything Dumb and Dumber tell you from Cottage Place. Dumb is in over his head and Dumber is just incompetent.
P.S. What's up with Dumber's new office, the old one was too small?
Not ignoring your comments, I'm in meetings all day for work. Will post tomorrow.
Keep drinking the cool aid.Your views are so out of touch I wonder how you function.Tell your readers what the reaction would be if you asked the union for another 5 minutes of classroom time.It appears the new teachers can pay $750 for dues but dont have the bucks to pay same for health care.
And you wonder whats wrong.The only mis information comes from people like you.
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