Posted By: Parent for Equal Sacrifice
I watched last week's Board Meeting and was amazed at the scare tactics employed by the Okemos Administration to strong-arm Okemos voters to vote for the tech bond.
First - drag out the old favorites - cut 5th Grade strings ($61k) - that always brings out the crowd and cut Gifted Education ($20k).
Second - shock - drop all athletics $647k
Finally - reduce programs - 1 less period for Middle School $400k
No doubt Okemos faces financial challenges. We have seen all of the cuts, but what about the largest cost this district incurs - salaries. No time was spent at the Board meeting on the increase costs facing this district next year. Over $1m - all teachers related. $480k for salary increases, $480k for step increases and the rest increased medical. Why has no one suggested our teachers share the sacrifice that all of the Okemos residents are being asked to make? Board Candidate Mary Graham suggests that all of us get a second job to pay for the bond. Why has she not suggested teachers forego their increases. $1M would keep strings, gifted, sports and middle school curriculum.
I see letters from Okemos teachers who do not live in Okemos - saying support the bond. How many taxes are they contributing? Do not forget that we all pay 6 mils today for Okemos schools - 4 times the tech bond mileage.
How can we believe that we are in such a financial crisis, when our Board and Administration will not even suggest that teachers share the sacrifice? The teacher's union is very vocal in what Board candidates this district needs, how we are bad parents if we do not support the tech bond and how bad we are for not supporting their attempt to have taxpayers guarantee a cushy retirement for each of them.
I always thought that the Administration and teachers were employees of the Okemos taxpayers, parents and students. Lately, I think the opposite is true.