Good Timing
I've been posting on the upcoming local school board elections and the divisiveness it is causing in my community. With the election coming up on May 17th, an article in the Long Island section of the NY Times is being viewed by some in my district as a gift from God, or at least a gift from the Times' editorial staff. According to the article, teachers on Long Island are among the highest paid in the nation. Apparently, 1 in 12 teachers on Long Island make over $100,000 a year, as compared to, for example, 0 teachers making over $100,000 in the State of California. The school district in which I live comes in second on the list for highest paid teachers. An editorial in Newsday really sums the problem up as well.
Now, I'm not sure how I really feel about this. On the one hand, I am a big believer of paying those who educate our children well. On the other hand, there is a good case being made here that these teachers' salaries are becoming exorbitant, and are increasing at a rate that cannot be sustainable for the taxpayers.
What is certain is that this item will be made into political hay for those opposing the budget in the May 17th election.
Now, I'm not sure how I really feel about this. On the one hand, I am a big believer of paying those who educate our children well. On the other hand, there is a good case being made here that these teachers' salaries are becoming exorbitant, and are increasing at a rate that cannot be sustainable for the taxpayers.
What is certain is that this item will be made into political hay for those opposing the budget in the May 17th election.
posted by orthomom at 10:16 PM
12 Comments:
Are there any more links where I can read more about the background of this dispute? I'm curious how it got to this point.
good for your Ortho. You're doing it!
I always find with local elections, the people who have the forum to publically advocate for a particular candidate or resolution are unable to legally, or ethically, specify who or what to vote for.
Being that you are anonnymous and not ethically bound by any restrictions, and clearly knowledeable about the issues, maybe specify for your readers EXACTLY who and what to vote for that is in the interests of the community you live in. I noticed you haven't done this yet.
I am not ENDORSING any candidates per se (not that my endorsement is worth much), but I will be voting for Murray Foreman and Shlomo Huttler. I will also be voting "NO" on the budget.
Yeah, I was at the Kulanu fair in Cedarhurst Park today and they kept announcing that we should vote. Im surprised that the vote is on Tuesday and this is the first Im really hearing about it.
I would have to agree with your asessment, OrthoMom. Though I, too, am inclined to err on the side of paying our educators well, it must be within the realm of what our communities can bear in taxes. And it appears (from what you linked anyway) that this case is one where things have gotten out of hand.
The teacher's salaries do need to be capped. Voting down the budget now is not going to alleviate this problem. It will only hurt the kids. The salary problem can only be fixed when negotiations take place. The teachers' contracts were negotiated last year.
I am for public education and will be voting for Stanley Kopilow and Rose Harris. It causes more divisivness in the community when the only African American seat on the Board is being challenged. Mrs. Harris has done a good job so far. Also, Mssr. Huttler and Foreman don't seem to be in favor of public education. I can not vote for people that don't want the best for all the kids in the entire community.
Ladies and Gentleman, 'anonymous' is clearly a racist.
He/she is voting for someone because they're black. That's typical behavior for people who deep down feel superior to Black people, which makes them feel guilty.
You know, black people are just like you and me. They're allowed to have opinions, and we're allowed to disagree with them. When I disagree with people, i don't vote for them. Apparently you make it all about color.
I would agree, SW. To bring race into the equation is inappropriate whether you're using as a criteria for or against a candidate. Let's vote on the issues, people! And trust me, unfortunately, the divisiveness is there already. The challenging of an African American candidate does nothing to add or detract from it.
You guys are pathetic.
and anonymous, if that is your real name, is bitter.
Bitter?
It is obvious that there is a huge lack of ethics in the Orthodox community.
Lets see....
1. Last year you supported David Sussman even though he mismanaged 18 million dollars of the Districts money while president of the school board.
2. You claim I am racist b/c I think an African American should be present on a school board that represents public schools consisting of a large African American population? Your opinion is sick and twisted.
3. You call the recent Times article a 'gift from God'. Congratulations! You now have your excuse for not supporting the budget. However this budget has nothing to do with the teachers' salaries that were not previously negotiated.
The kids, excuse me, the public school kids are the only ones that are going to be effected by a failed budget. You obviously could care less.
3. You are voting for individuals (Foreman and Huttler) that claim to want to restore fiscal responsibility and community harmony by running a campaign that is devoted to a bending of the truth and geared only toward ½ of the community.
In fact Mr. Foreman stood up at a past Board meeting, not being able to control himself, and yelled 'surrender your schools already!'. Nice!
4. The Blockbuster on Central Aveneue was forced to close b/c of religous pressure imposed by the Orthodox community. The Citibank on Cental Avenues is also closed on Saturdays b/c of the same religious pressure. How come? Why does the Orthodox community want to impose their religious beliefs on the rest of the community? This is one of the reasons why their is divisiveness in the community.
The Orthodox community can't even get a long with each other. I have religious associates that have told me the different sects don't like eachother.
I can go on and on....
I am Jewish. My wife is Puerto Rican. I am raising my kids Catholic. Does it make you cringe?
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