Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Teachers reject wage freeze - The New Britain Herald (newbritainherald.com)


Teachers reject wage freeze - The New Britain Herald (newbritainherald.com)
by James Craven
Posted by Frank Smith at 20.5.09

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll be the first to comment. Obviously the teachers in our district only value one thing, themselves. Each one cares not for the other. Let those fall who
may, so long as I can count on my
pay raise. It is a long known fact
the majority of teachers in the district are un-happy in their jobs. There is discourd with Doris Kurtz, principles and yes their student body. While most of
us have already accepted salary freezes or worse a layoff in the private sector. Change comes hard pressed in the municipality. Teachers will argue they did not choose the private sector they chose to serve in the local goverment and with that comes entitlement to every benefit proposed including pay raises despite what can be afforded at various times in the budget.

Young enthusiastic teachers will be the first to go. Student programs that create a higher level
of learning and sports will be slashed.

Our students will be ok. I have confidence that our taxes will be held from increases.

You have clearly sent a message. Change is needed. Change in the leadership of this school district starting right at the top. Change in union contracts. Change at the BOE level.

Sometimes when we argue and fight and we do not find a middle ground to support necessary changes, one will be quite surprised when change still comes and when that happens it usually swings further than you would have possibly conceded.

There are plenty of wonderful new graduates to replace you. There are plenty of teachers from other districts who would love the chance to transfer into our school system too.

May 20, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Anonymous said...

I'm disappointed, but not surprised. Beloin-Saavedra feigns surprise at the mistrust, but the teachers see the waste of $$ constantly. I believe they have been lied to, time and again, about where money comes from.

May 20, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Anonymous said...

I do not blame the teachers. They all hate Kurtz and the BOE members who back her, Wolski, Kochel, Saavedra, Holley, Riley and Jacobs. Many of the principals have not achieved tenure. One of them told me that they are all getting out when they are tenured.

The teachers see the waste. Too bad everyone couldn't see the large hot pans of food,the huge salads and the pies that are brought in for executive session. Kurtz and Wolski are the first to stuff their faces and it is beginning to show!

There are probably between 25 to 30 principals and administrators who make well over $120,000 annually with all the benefits.

The teachers work hard and get no appreciation from Kurtz who continues to grab all the credit for the good things and blame others for the bad things.

May 20, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Anonymous said...

There is only one solution: LAYOFFS!!!

Do like Governor Lowell Weicker did. Keep laying off more and more of their members until the unions are begging you to make a deal for wage concessions that brings back the laid off teachers. Cut about half of the dues they are collecting, and the union will beg you to offer wage concessions if it brings back their dues paying members.

May 20, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Anonymous said...

I for one would love to see a line by line budget report from the BOE that shows where and how they spend their money; and not with the heading Administrative (i.e. Meeting food money, money for board members to arttend dinners , etc), BUT the rules state they dont have to show that. So they never will.

Bottom line:
1. Dr Kurtz needs to go. As one poster said- if anything works it was her idea; if it doesn't blame someone else. She loves to implement things and then ignore them when thye dont work. If you did a poll- 90% of teachers/ principals will tell you she is the biggest issue- no pun intended :)
2. The board members that blindly support her need to go - especially Wolski & Kochel.

May 20, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Anonymous said...

we could lay off half the teachers tomorrow and no one would even notice.

May 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Anonymous said...

What role do parents play in education for their children? It's always that people blame things on the teachers. Really! New Britain teachers are well prepared to teach. You can provide students with all manner of things, pencils paper book bags, books, free lunch etc. You can't provide them with familial morals, guidance respect for property and for others, etc.
Not everyone is prepared genetically or environmentally to succeed at a high level educationally. So don't blame the teachers if scores are low, don't blame anybody, that is counterproductive. Parents, with what basic values attitudes - especially respect- do you send your children to school. Do you want to blame someone, blame your self. Teachers prepare themselves for their jobs; what's a parent's job? Just to reproduce? A mushroom can do that! A remedy will be offered to help in this situation. Everyone has a role to play. It won't be pretty.

May 20, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Anonymous said...

70 layoffs is a start, but it doesn't go far enough. More layoffs please!

May 20, 2009 at 6:24 PM

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