From the Press of Atlantic City, Voice of the People, April 1, 2010
Gov. Chris Christie's decision to cut funding to public schools is having a devastating impact on Mullica Township. Our district lost $288,000 in state funding, and the surplus of $261,000 was seized by the state for its own coffers.
This means Mullica Township will lose four teachers, a media specialist/librarian, a special education teacher, three teacher aides, a secretary, a remedial learning teacher and a custodian. In addition to these deep staff cuts, students also will see a reduction of music and physical education and the reduction or elimination of field trips, after-school activities, textbooks, computer purchases and classroom supplies.
Mullica has an excellent, efficient public school. Our test scores are highly competitive and our school community is close-knit. We know children do not get a second chance at a first-class education. Christie's education cuts will hurt our students.
KATHY EATON
President
Mullica Township Education Association
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Christie Cuts Hurt Education
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8 comments:
Same old story.
Hey Kathy, take the wage freeze, pay your FAIR share of health benefits (more than the $400 per year you pay now) and you could save the jobs. But like the OTHER Kathy (Chasey) you just can't face reality. You would rather hurt the children than help them. We have seen you in action. To bad we can't vote you out!
Kathy Eaton continues the history of not accepting any responsibility by for the fiscal mess. MTEA have demanded, and have for the most part, obtained what they asked for every three years.If you remember, when they don't get what they want they get nasty, very nasty. As always, the rhetoric is, if you cut us, you hurt the kids. It is however never about the kids. It is always about the teachers and staff and administrators getting what they want , when they want it and forget the tax payers. When tax payers complain, they will remind you that they too are tax payers but that they support education and how hard they work for our kids. It never changes. We might as well have a poster out there on the pike with MTEA holding a gun to Mullica kids with the balloon saying, "Hand it over or I'll get you." At least the poster will tell it like it really is.
Much, if not all, of the proposed school tax increase is for a reserve for the large salary raises that the teachers want and to cover all their health care costs, which the teachers don't want to pay one nickel for. They will wait to see if the budget is defeated first before making any meaningful concessions. If it passes, they will know that the money is in the bag.
The only way to defeat the teacher's union is to vote down the budget. Vote it in and you're voting for large salary increases and for no employee contribution to their health care benefits. You are not voting for the quality of the kids' education. You are voting whether or not the union should be the selfish pig that it continues to be.
Its interesting to me that it seems the taxpayers have finally had enough. For years the only ones interested in voicing their opinions were teachers and the NJEA. They flooded meetings, sent many letters and were the loudest voice in any budget or contract debate. They campaigned for approval any time their budgets needed votes, with great success. I think we have finally had enough. The taxpayers are fighting back and getting stronger everyday; our backs are against the wall. Enough of us are asking why our employees are getting a better deal than we can give ourselves.
Christie's cuts are hurting more than just the teachers. Stop always thinking its just about you.
This union president should address the concerns of the teacher who wrote in to this site fearful of losing their job. Does Ms. Eaton represent THAT teacher too? Just wondering...
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