TE Teachers Ask School Board to Re-Check Math

Editor's Note: The following is an editorial press release from the union:

The T/E community recently spoke out against teacher demotions at the April 23rd School Board meeting. The central concern: should the Board use existing resources to protect our best and brightest teachers - the core of an exceptional T/E school system - or cut these dedicated educators from our program?

One truth remains clear: no parties involved have created the financial challenges affecting T/E. Rather, these challenges result from a confluence of economic and legislative factors beyond the control of our local officials, residents, and teachers.

The manner in which these challenges are resolved, however, still remain in the Board’s control.

While the School Board has recently proposed the demotion of our most successful teachers as a viable cost reduction strategy, T/E teachers believe strongly that this proposal will be extremely destructive to the T/E educational program and that more reasonable solutions exist.

The recent Board meeting and a TEEA review of District finances reveal several important factors related to demotion alternatives:

--The Board revised downward its projected deficit to 1.5M based upon allowable Act I tax increases not included in its original assumptions, revised instructional expenditures and newly accepted budget strategies.

--17 retiring teachers, also excluded from the Board’s initial assumptions, will reduce the projected deficit further. TEEA estimates savings of nearly $1M from teacher retirements.

--The Board has designated much of its substantial 31M fund balance - one of the largest in the state - to rising PSERS obligations, a major external legislative challenge causing this year’s deficit. But it has not considered the use of these funds to offset next year’s increased obligation. The projected deficit is larger as a result.

--The Board regularly uses the general fund balance to resolve budget deficits.

--The Board’s own internal policy is the only measure preventing the use of the $31M general fund balance as a bridge that would protect the excellence of our program. The Board regularly changes its own policies, and has the authority to use these funds. The Board is not prevented by PA School Code.

If the decision to be made is between the core of our educational program or a small fraction of the fund balance, then the decision should be clear.

The Board should table the demotion measure and, instead, fully participate in comprehensive, two-way, productive contract negotiations - one of several important paths to sustainability. Why destroy our award-winning program when the resources to protect it exist?

T/E teachers again call on residents to please make your voice heard on this crucial matter at the Finance Committee meeting on Monday, May 7th.

Please help others to stay informed by forwarding this message to your neighbors.

The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

T/E School District Administration Offices
West Valley Business Center
940 West Valley Road
Suite 1700, Wayne, PA
Meeting Room 200

The T/E Education Association sent this Op-Ed to the media as a press release Thursday.
www.teeducationassociation.org

Also on TE Patch:

Blog: PA School District Problems: Taxpayers Draw the Short Straw