To the BOE: How do you give out raises when we are in the hole?

The real problem we have here is with the exception of the board members that were newly elected last year, the incumbent board members who are more likely incompetent board members who granted the raises in the last contract even though the school's attorney got up at a board meeting to which I was there to hear this and state " if we do not give raises to the teachers we are looking at a 5 million dollar deficit in the coming years , if we give them a raise we are looking at a 7 million dollar deficit . This is the height of incompetence. How do you give raises out when we are in a multi million dollar hole. I for one will never vot yes for another budget and I will never vote for the board members who have been in there way too many years . Don't let the falling unemployment rate fool you there are still millions of people out of work and more residents in plainview then you think. I have had the opportunity to work from home and I have seen more guys that I know are residents during the day then I have ever seen before .I hope the 2% cap gets passed because the board needs a wake up call . I blame the board more then the union given the fact that they did not have the nerve to stand up against the PCT and say NO we can not afford to give more right now. Very sad

Plainview Herald Reports on Board Of Ed Budget Meeting

New post please - these summaries of the BOE meetings are usually posted after each meeting:

http://www.antonnews.com/plainviewoldbethpageherald/news/13916-plainview-old-bethpage-board-of-education-discusses-2011-2012-budget.html

Some Program Changes in Consideration While Board Decides Which Cuts Need to Be Made Now

With 10.4 positions proposed for reduction next year, the first budget meeting of the year for the Plainview-Old Bethpage Board of Education on Feb. 28 was a fairly somber affair, as administrators attempted to explain the rationale behind some of their choices. ( click link for more...)

A Teacher's Point of View

I teach in a Long Island district. We reopened our contract for renegotiation at the request of our board of education in light of the bad economy. Something was worked out based on the particulars of our contract. In the end it meant less money for us over the next few years but hopefully minimal, if any lost jobs, a clear message to the community that we appreciate their support and will do whatever we can to reciprocate. We're neither the wealthiest nor the poorest district in the area. Our salaries are, to my knowledge below the average but we care about our community and our community cares about us. I'd never want to work anywhere else.

It's too bad so much bad blood exists in Plainview. It doesn't have to be this way for either side.

Herald Reports: Can Districts Work Together for Lower Salaries?

http://www.antonnews.com/syossetjerichotribune/news/13513-can-school-districts-work-together-for-lower-salaries.html
Also found in Plainview Herald

Can School Districts Work Together for Lower Salaries?

Friday, 11 February 2011 00:00
North Shore Leads Meeting of Boards on
Legal Cooperation

This unforgiving economic climate has dealt hard blows to many people working in the private sector. Those lucky enough to hold on to jobs do so knowing that, in this era, it is unlikely to expect ideal financial compensation. Many employees are paying larger benefit contributions; some, like the Syosset Council of Teachers voted to do on Jan. 20, are forgoing raises. As the pain persists and time goes on, eyes are turning to the public sector, where many say their own, harder-to-earn tax dollars are funding a better situation than what they themselves are experiencing.

Nassau County has been working to negotiate a new deal with its primary union, seeking to remove what many found to be excessive items of compensation. Across local municipalities and at the state level, the microscope has gone down on the books and taxpayers are looking for change.

School districts account for the bulk of property taxes. In this arena, residents seek relief from a tax levy increase while boards of education face the challenge of providing an environment that 1) educates children properly and 2) keeps the value of property somewhere near the high values that brought residents into their communities in the first place. ......click link

"Plainview Patch" Reports Schools Ace State Report

http://plainview.patch.com/articles/plainview-schools-ace-state-report-cards


Plainview Schools Ace State Report Cards
Local schools outperform state average in a big way.
By Joe Dowd

The Plainview-Old Bethpage schools got stellar marks in virtually all categories of academic proficiency, blowing away statewide averages, according to reports issued today by the state Education Department.

The state report contains information that has been released to public throughout the past year but the state bills its Report Card as a single place to find all the information. It is available on the web at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/irs/reportcard/.

School officials could not be immediately reached for comment.......