At the January 19th District 203 school board meeting the following statement was presented by QE203.org
We at Quality Education 203.org appreciate this districts practice of operating in a fiscally responsible manner, while creating the excellent academic environment that our children benefit from. We also recognize the vital role that the teachers and staff play in making a real difference in our children’s education. Unfortunately, the economic climate is conspiring to make everyone’s job here more difficult.
We’ve all read the headlines this past year: from companies closing, to people being forced to take unpaid furloughs or having their salaries cut or frozen; the news has been dismal. In this, educators are not immune. Nationally, many school districts are being forced to accept significant spending cuts affecting programs and teachers alike, due to lower state tax revenues. Locally, in Park Ridge, where Maine Township School District is facing a $17 million deficit next year, teachers were asked to give up their base increase for the next two years, or risk losing approximately 12% of the teaching staff.
While District 203 is fortunate to have a balanced budget, this district and its residents are not immune to the current economic climate. It is our belief that in the foreseeable future, the ability of this district to raise additional funds from the taxpayer, above and beyond what CPI and a bit of new construction can bring in, is nil; there is no chance this community will support a referendum for increased operating expenses for a good long time. Therefore, any salary increases will have to compete with capital expenditure needs, and new programs and initiatives, for these limited additional funds.
So, what do we think this portends for the new contracts?
We think that saving jobs and programs is more important than salary increases.
Due to funding constraints there needs to be a base salary freeze. But if both parties are satisfied that savings from retirement turnover will net out the cost of step and lane increases, then those can remain intact.
The 6% end of career retirement bumps for staff employed continuously by the district for 15 years, need to end. There is nothing like it in the private sector and it makes an already overburdened pension system that much more unstable.
Lastly, we would say to everyone “be bold”; there are new demands and new opportunities for this district to embrace if it is to retain its place as one of the nation’s finest school systems. We cannot be tied to past practices, but must go forward with flexibility and effective collaboration between all parties to further the district in its goal of continued educational excellence.
| Next > |
|---|
