grossly underfunded edumacation

[Fishpart]

In my town the elected seven person School Comittee is has only one member who ISN"T an educator or related to an educator, the taxpayer doesn't stand a chance. Now when it comes to arbitration, the people doing the arbitration are people who are staff members of other unions, the taxpayer doesn't stand a chance again....

I mentioned to a union staff member that we have plenty of money for teaching but never any for eduacation and he shut up instantly.....

I'm not saying teaching isn't difficult, I am saying teachers should try competing with the Chinese for marketshare and have to keep stockholders happy.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by Fishpart

In my town the elected seven person School Comittee is has only one member who ISN"T an educator or related to an educator, the taxpayer doesn't stand a chance. Now when it comes to arbitration, the people doing the arbitration are people who are staff members of other unions, the taxpayer doesn't stand a chance again....

I mentioned to a union staff member that we have plenty of money for teaching but never any for eduacation and he shut up instantly.....

I'm not saying teaching isn't difficult, I am saying teachers should try competing with the Chinese for marketshare and have to keep stockholders happy.

Good point. Teaching is difficult, draining, stressful, and pretty important.

That being said...teaching is a public service, menaing teachers are public servants. Here in CT, those public servants get insane benefits that dwarf anything available to the public whom teachers serve. It's simply not sustainable.

I have a 3 bedroom raised ranch on a half acre in an average town. My property taxes are $7,800 a year. It's not yet insane, but it's getting damn close.

[scottw]

based on the recent elections in Mass Ri and Ct the entrenched will continue to "sustain" it till it collapses

[Fly Rod]

I agree with ya about this arbitration bull@$#%. There has to be a way for a city or town to stand fast.

The biggest item that drives up city and town taxes are pension funds. This does not have to be arbitrated when hiring new people. I have brought this up with a few city councilors about doing away with pension plans when hiring new employees, they are afraid to mention it. I have suggested to pick a year lets say 2012, any new employees would have a 401K paid for through the employees pay check, existing employees on a pension would die off as they age. This would save cities a lot of money in the long run. Private companies are doing away with pensions and having their employees on 401k's

[Piscator]

Originally Posted by Fly Rod

I agree with ya about this arbitration bull@$#%. There has to be a way for a city or town to stand fast.

The biggest item that drives up city and town taxes are pension funds. This does not have to be arbitrated when hiring new people. I have brought this up with a few city councilors about doing away with pension plans when hiring new employees, they are afraid to mention it. I have suggested to pick a year lets say 2012, any new employees would have a 401K paid for through the employees pay check, existing employees on a pension would die off as they age. This would save cities a lot of money in the long run. Private companies are doing away with pensions and having their employees on 401k's

Couldn't agree more.........................