Town of Braintree

Our school committee chair has stated publically that they agreed to raises for teachers knowing we would need a prop 2 1/2 overide to pay for it.

This raises some interesting questions.

Does she realize all town employees will expect the same thus insuring the amount needed in the overide will only increase?

Is it not a little arrogant to challenge taxpayers in this way when they have clearly expressed their inability to pay more?

What sort of concessions did we receive from teachers in return for what is a much larger wage increase than most working people can expect over the next few years?

At Silver Lake in Kingston they are asking for more time in the classroom from their teachers. If we did the same this would address our problem with overcrowded classes. Effectively it would be like hiring more teachers in return for the raise.

Our high school teachers get one prep period and one ''special duty'' period per day. If they spent one of those periods in the classroom it would be as if we hired a dozen or more teachers.

The selfishness of the teacher's union will inevitably lead to fiscal strife and pressure resulting in lay offs and a further degradation of services in the community.

Town Meeting has pledged to set aside a modest portion of regular revenues to provide for capital improvements. It looks as though the first session since the pledge was made will prove it a lie. Can't give the customary raises to our bloated payroll and still provide for needs that have been neglected for so many years.

The feds have cut us off, as has the state. We must hold our reps at that level accountable for their failure to prioritize human need over corporate greed. We can't expect the local homeowner to continue to dig deeper as their ability to make ends met is continually strained.

How about we ask Halliburton to give the feds back some of the money they have overcharged us, or Raytheon to refund the tax breaks they cheated our state out of? Maybe we could really reduce the burden on working families instead of the super rich?

When you see our Senators, Congressman, State Rep. or State Senators around ask them what their doing to change the status quo. As best I can tell, with the exception of our senior Senator, they are simply going along to get ahead.

Someone somewhere should be making some noise.

When and Where

Hi Frank,
Can you tell me when and where she said that, I would like to read her exact words.
Thanks

Public School Failure= Union

Once it was a vocation to become a teacher, now it's just another career. My daughter is a teacher, so I have some knowledge of what I speak. She is as disgusted as many of us, at the manner in which the union dictates the teaching profession direction.

These public government type are looking at the easy way out out everytime. Their self centerness and insatiable thirst to eat the town's limited budget is a disgrace. Moreover the school committee saps and their liberal spend, even though there is no money, are irresponsible! Maureen Clark is the worst of all! Noe on the school committee have a clue how to improve education. Their answer is always throw many at it. WRONG answer. Money has not solved the continuing degradation of publioc schools, and it will not. Competition will though, but the damn teachers union fights competition with it money. Wake up Voters. Vote all school committee incumbent out; they are spending money that does not exist.

As for the teachers; go ahead as you are trying to suck us dry. You are killing the golden goose. Your union president is leafding you all over the cliff, and like those lemmings you continue to follow. Get ready; as a town meeting member I will fight your wage contract and oppose any dept exclusion that calls for money to pay for you contract. You are self centered.

By Del G

Question

Regarding the proposed teacher's contract: If town meeting should vote nay to funding the proposed contract, does everyone go back to the table?

By money matters