Penta calls for statewide teachers' contract

Posted 9/1/16

Michael Penta, Republican candidate for State Representative in District 21, has announced that if elected on November 8 he will sponsor a bill to establish a single statewide teachers' contract effective July 1, 2022. He stated this can be accomplished

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Penta calls for statewide teachers' contract

Posted

Michael Penta, Republican candidate for State Representative in District 21, has announced that if elected on November 8 he will sponsor a bill to establish a single statewide teachers’ contract effective July 1, 2022. He stated this can be accomplished by creating a statewide negotiating committee and believes the General Assembly has the authority to do so.

“Rhode Island courts have previously ruled that the General Assembly is the school committee for the state. The General Assembly already exercise this authority by approving a school funding formula on an annual basis and it’s time we expand that role and for the General Assembly to negotiate one statewide teachers’ contract,” he said in a release.

“Why do we in Rhode Island have 39 separate contracts when the City of New York has over 1 million students and approximately 70,000 teachers and they accomplish this with only one teacher’s contract? There will be a substantial savings to taxpayers just with negotiating health insurance premiums for our hard working teachers as we can negotiate a better rate with health insurance providers by having a larger pool of employees under one contract.”

Penta said his bill would create a nine-member negotiating committee with the Speaker of the House and Senate President each appointing four members of their respective chambers, one from each of the four counties, to serve on the committee. The final member would be appointed by the governor.

Comments

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  • richardcorrente

    Dear Mike,

    Please believe me. I am all for saving money but doesn't the State of Rhode Island have enough control over Warwick already?? You want them to have MORE?? What Warwick really needs is a "Home Rule Charter", like every other city/town has (almost).

    Even Richmond has the ability to rule themselves while Warwick needs to "ask permission" from the General Assembly every time we want to do something that costs more than a few dollars. A nine member panel selected by appointment?

    Mike! Are you kidding me? Rhode Island already has a horrible reputation of being "By the politicians. For the Politicians", and you want to give them even more of our rights?? Come on Mike! Think this over! It's costing you a lot of votes!

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Thursday, September 1, 2016 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    The prior comment is from a candidate for office who is seeking to advance a political campaign and does not expect that readers will review the following applicable documents:

    Warwick City Charter: http://www.warwickri.gov/city-council-legislative-department/pages/warwick-city-charter

    A Rhode Island Division of Municipal Finance document that explains Warwick's "legislative charter," including procedures for adopting the city budget: http://www.municipalfinance.ri.gov/documents/resources/Home_Rule_Charter_Publication.pdf

    Neither of these sources state that the General Assembly is empowered to review or act upon the city's budget procedures.

    Join all of us in Warwick who inform ourselves to learn the facts.

    Thursday, September 1, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear CrickeeRaven,

    Once again, you are expressing what Warwick HAS, while I am expressing what Warwick SHOULD HAVE!

    Please stop misleading the readers, or at least when you do have the courage to tell the reader who is making the statement. You keep hiding behind a fake name. It doesn't give you credibility CrickeeRaven.

    As far as the rest of the readers, please enjoy the Labor Day Weekend, and, by the way, if you want to look up a website visit www.correntemayorwarwick.com. I promise there's a lot of good reading there. You can even leave a comment.

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Thursday, September 1, 2016 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    A prior comment by a candidate for office included the following: "Warwick needs to 'ask permission' from the General Assembly every time we want to do something that costs more than a few dollars."

    As proven by another comment, the Warwick Charter does not require any such thing, yet this candidate repeatedly claims that such information is "misleading."

    Please join me and the many people in Warwick who do not support this candidate.

    Thursday, September 1, 2016 Report this