Comments on: Good news (finally!) on school budgets, along with some words of caution http://www.mysouthborough.com/2010/03/11/good-news-finally-on-school-budgets-along-with-some-words-of-caution/ News and events in Southborough, MA Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:41:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Anna http://www.mysouthborough.com/2010/03/11/good-news-finally-on-school-budgets-along-with-some-words-of-caution/#comment-15734 Anna Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:53:28 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=15279#comment-15734 Point well taken!! ALL of those percentages for health care contribution are incredibly low, but 20%?!!?!! It looks like the next round of contract talks will be interesting. Their way of giving back was to take a day off instead of training. I thought that we wanted teachers to be skilled? I guess we should take what we can get? Maybe I was expecting that they would give back a percentage of the contacted pay increase instead. Point well taken!! ALL of those percentages for health care contribution are incredibly low, but 20%?!!?!! It looks like the next round of contract talks will be interesting. Their way of giving back was to take a day off instead of training. I thought that we wanted teachers to be skilled? I guess we should take what we can get? Maybe I was expecting that they would give back a percentage of the contacted pay increase instead.

]]> By: Sue Grinblatas http://www.mysouthborough.com/2010/03/11/good-news-finally-on-school-budgets-along-with-some-words-of-caution/#comment-15733 Sue Grinblatas Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:42:35 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=15279#comment-15733 Good point, John Good point, John

]]> By: John Kendall http://www.mysouthborough.com/2010/03/11/good-news-finally-on-school-budgets-along-with-some-words-of-caution/#comment-15702 John Kendall Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:33:24 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=15279#comment-15702 Wow.......we beat up on the Police Department, but nobody questions the teachers......AMAZING Wow…….we beat up on the Police Department, but nobody questions the teachers……AMAZING

]]> By: John Kendall http://www.mysouthborough.com/2010/03/11/good-news-finally-on-school-budgets-along-with-some-words-of-caution/#comment-15549 John Kendall Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:48:24 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=15279#comment-15549 Katherine Howard, president of the teachers association told the school committee that teachers did what was in the best interest of the students by voting “without hesitation to give back.” Every other group in town including the retirees have stepped up and now pay 25% of health insurance. The only group who has NOT is the teachers. They still pay only 20%. Ms. Howard and the teacher's union really need to put their money where their mouth is. The Firefighters, Police, DPW.....and the retirees without any say, have worked with the town on the health insurance issues. The teachers really need to join the crowd to show real budget savings. Katherine Howard, president of the teachers association told the school committee that teachers did what was in the best interest of the students by voting “without hesitation to give back.”

Every other group in town including the retirees have stepped up and now pay 25% of health insurance. The only group who has NOT is the teachers. They still pay only 20%. Ms. Howard and the teacher’s union really need to put their money where their mouth is. The Firefighters, Police, DPW…..and the retirees without any say, have worked with the town on the health insurance issues. The teachers really need to join the crowd to show real budget savings.

]]> By: Marnie Hoolahan http://www.mysouthborough.com/2010/03/11/good-news-finally-on-school-budgets-along-with-some-words-of-caution/#comment-15433 Marnie Hoolahan Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:26:42 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=15279#comment-15433 Thanks for posting this Susan! I think that this is a great step towards resolution. I would also include that the school technology group agreed to slash their budget from $130K to $90K, a 30% decrease and further illustrates the willingness of the broader efforts to come to a point where the Town of Southborough could support. I do hope that the Advisory Committee and the Selectmen look at the efforts made to preserve the school's education integrity (vis a vie no additional headcount reductions) and take the significant efforts taken into consideration. Dr. Gobron made a compelling point - had the circuit breaker funding from the state held constant over last year, the school committee comes in at a -1.9% budget decrease over previous year. I applaud the efforts of the school committe, the willingness of the teachers' association to concede on something and the result. I would encourage the Advisory Committe and Selectmen to support this recommendation. Thanks for posting this Susan! I think that this is a great step towards resolution. I would also include that the school technology group agreed to slash their budget from $130K to $90K, a 30% decrease and further illustrates the willingness of the broader efforts to come to a point where the Town of Southborough could support. I do hope that the Advisory Committee and the Selectmen look at the efforts made to preserve the school’s education integrity (vis a vie no additional headcount reductions) and take the significant efforts taken into consideration. Dr. Gobron made a compelling point – had the circuit breaker funding from the state held constant over last year, the school committee comes in at a -1.9% budget decrease over previous year.

I applaud the efforts of the school committe, the willingness of the teachers’ association to concede on something and the result. I would encourage the Advisory Committe and Selectmen to support this recommendation.

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