LETTERS

Let's move on and settle the teachers' contract

Posted 11/15/16

To the Editor: What is happening to the Warwick Public Schools? They used to be one of the best in the state. Now, substitutes are reluctant to sub in the schools. Teacher morale is going down rapidly. I have been a Warwick resident since 1964 and am a

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LETTERS

Let's move on and settle the teachers' contract

Posted

To the Editor: 

What is happening to the Warwick Public Schools? They used to be one of the best in the state. Now, substitutes are reluctant to sub in the schools.  Teacher morale is going down rapidly.

I have been a Warwick resident since 1964 and am a retired Warwick teacher. My four children attended Warwick schools and received an excellent education.

As a teacher of 30 years in the Warwick schools, I had the experience of going through many contractual negotiations. At times these negotiations were drawn out and were frustrating for all.  But, when they were settled, it was always in the best interests of the students.

It seems that many of the things that the Warwick Teachers Union fought for in the past (class size, support services for special education students, support services for the classroom teacher, among them) are slowly being chipped away.  It almost seems like the current superintendent was hired to do just that.  A top-notch school district has to spend money to attain that status, but do it wisely.  I agree that our district’s expenses should be looked at carefully and judiciously.  Teacher salaries are only part of it.  Has the School Committee looked at the added expenses of extra legal fees, consultant fees, and administrative restructuring fees?  

Yes, there is the mantra that we want our children to be taught in the least restrictive environment (usually meaning, put everyone in a regular classroom).  However, when there is a chronically disruptive child, or a child needing 1 on 1 attention and doesn’t always get it, or a child who gets frustrated because he/she doesn’t understand, is a regular classroom the least restrictive environment?  What about the classroom teacher taking time away from teaching to try to calm a disruptive child and having to document everything when it is happening, and then has to get the rest of the class back on track?  These are just a few of the challenges that might go on in a classroom when all students are grouped together.  I realize that the School Committee and the School Administration have many “regulations” to follow, but what happened to using common sense in enacting them?

I would encourage the Administration and the School Committee to have an open, honest dialogue with the teachers.  They know what is happening in the classroom.

Parents, when your child relates a story of what happened in class, listen and ask questions.  Be an advocate for your child’s education.  Your voice may very well bring about change.  Learn both sides of the issues that are being negotiated.  Let the School Committee, the Superintendent, the Mayor know that the teachers’ contract has to be settled NOW so that teachers and students can have an enjoyable educational experience. 

Elizabeth Kelley

Warwick

Comments

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  • Thecaptain

    Since there is a teacher speaking about education, lets talk about education. As indicated in the State of RI Dept. of Education Rhode Island report card that was published in October 2013. Of 40 public high schools in the state of RI, Warwick's 3 rank 28, 30, and 32 out of 40. The average graduating math proficiency was noted at 17% and graduating science proficiency noted at 11%.

    In any business anywhere, if the management results were those kinds of numbers, heads would roll, along with numerous pink slips.

    Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    The facts are these:

    1.The Warwick Teachers Union were and are willing to sit at the negotiation table.

    2.Attorney Vincent Ragosta is willing to attend and arbitrate the meeting.

    3.Bethany Furtado walked out saying they were spinning their wheels.

    The way I see it, Furtado is PAID BY THE TAXPAYERS to "spin her wheels"; and if 27 meetings aren't enough,then have a seat for the 28th!

    Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    Wednesday, November 16, 2016 Report this

  • moreofthesame

    The captain....apparently you missed the point of the letter .....your constant refrain of look at the data only tells part of the story. Using your logic, heads should roll on the administrative side. The teachers are fighting an uphill battle without support. Ultimately

    , the school department administration is responsible for operations and direction. They are doing a poor job of it. The school committee it just as bad...clueless and without direction. Yet, you refuse to acknowledge that fact.

    Also, please stop your whining about having to send your kids to private school. Many kids from Warwick schools do well getting into high end colleges and find success. Why don't you offer something constructive instead of constantly belittling thing's and offering no solutions?

    If you really don't like Warwick you should move....maybe Barrington is for you.....they have "great schools" and your apparent elitism would fit in well.....what is your solution to what ails Warwick schools? Fire all the teachers....good thinking Brainiac....sheesh

    Wednesday, November 16, 2016 Report this

  • BeaconCommenter

    Hey Captain, don't you have some fire trucks to follow around and video record?

    Wednesday, November 16, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Moreofthesame,

    I havent missed the point of the letter or anything else for that matter. Yes the administration is partly to blame as well. I don't remember you voicing any opinion at the budget hearings when for 3 years Len Flood failed to produce a budget, had a contract that gave him 15 paid holidays, 5 weeks vacation and 90 sick days per year. I however, bitched loudly about that, especial;y after the man went out on sick leave for months, then came back for one day, and took vacation to the Caribbean to marry his boyfriend, who by the way, was also a city employee enjoying ridiculous benefits. Talk about a waste. Didn't hear 1 teacher complain at the budget hearings. The issue was so outrageous and controversial that it made the NY Times. One of the article links below:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/fashion/weddings/03olsen.html

    http://johnstonsunrise.net/stories/retired-school-finance-director-fills-post-at-600-a-day,47018

    http://johnstonsunrise.net/stories/with-267-fewer-students-warwick-school-costs-35-more-than-neighbor-cranston,49024

    In 3 years Flood took 15 weeks vacation, 270 days sick leave, and 45 paid holidays and $375,000. Nice contract eh? Didn't hear anyone bitch about that.

    By the way, Im not whining about sending my kids to private school. I did as my parents did for me. My parents in the 70's knew the Warwick school system was a mess, and it hasn't changed much at all. The difference in private school is that as a teacher, if you don't produce results, your history. You are protected by your excellence, not your union. As far as offering solutions? Its pretty obvious that you have never attended a council finance meeting or read a newspaper. There are not many people who have offered as many solutions as I have. But again, when you offer solutions to people with pea brains like Donna Travis or Karen Bachus, what do you expect??

    Solutions? Here are a few that have been offered.

    * No more colas for the retired

    * 50% copay on healthcare for all municipal employees (just as is done in virtually every community in MA) or offer several different plans. (by the way, that solution was offered by the healthcare expert that was hired at a cost of $12000 by Wilkinson, then she ignored all of the recommendations. I and others offered the same recommendations for free for several years)

    * Immediately eliminate free lifetime healthcare. Presently we have a $310 million liability with not 1 penny in the bank (brilliant financing there eh?)

    * Increase deductibles at hospital and ER visits and prescription copays. Theses fees should be on par with the majority of the private sector care fees.

    * Eliminate the gross abuse of sick time, overtime, and totally restructure the ridiculous concept of unused sick pay. National average sick days in the private sector is 4.5. WFD is 20 per man, (that of course is on top of the UNLIMITED SICK TIME allowed by RIGL Title 45) Unlimited is not enough, the poor fire fighters need unlimited +20. Talk about abuse. Just so you understand (if you can do math) the last contract allowed for 13,200 sick days for that department. What a joke, what a scam.

    * GPS monitoring in every vehicle with the exception of sanitation vehicles. This would bring efficiency in Warwick to the 20th century (like EVERY municipality in MA) would also eliminate the school dept. and dpw driving around hiding out 1/2 the day, wasting fuel, wear and tear, not to mention the theft from people like David Laplante. But Bachus thinks GPS is an infringement on civil rights. That mentality is why your school dept. is in crisis

    * The amount of city workers needs to be reduced. None of our departments are operating with any efficiency.

    * Eliminate minimum manning and put 3 men on a rescue. That way the only wear and tear on the engines and ladder trucks will be driving to stop & shop and daves. Lets face it, 1 real fire in 10 years, and they f''ed it up.

    * Water department should be privatized

    * DPW and WSA should be overseen by individuals that have post secondary education and are ABC licensed superintendents with no union ties or connections

    * The retirement system is laughable and should be converted to a defined contribution program only. Defined benefit programs are bankrupting municipalities all over the country. Look at the debt that Police /fire 1 has incurred on the city. 40 year re-amortization, 314 million over 26 years to reduce the debt by 7 million. That's finance genius for sure.

    So you see, I'm just starting. But Ive said all of these things in public for years. Nothing gets done, more debt gets piled on, your schools are dung heap structures, and the education coming from them isn't much better according to the state statistics.

    So now that you have my ideas, why dont you offer some of your own. You can do that in the form of a letter to the editor with your name on it, you can approach the microphone at the budget hearings and make your comments known, or you can bloviate and complain on the Beacon Blog and condemn those that have had the balls to stand up in public and voice their opinions.

    One more thing, just before you condemn me be aware of one fact. MY efforts and My efforts alone increased your auto tax exemption from $500 - $2000. MY efforts returned $7.5 million back to the taxpayer in the city of Warwick. What have your efforts returned. There is not 1 seated council member that can point to that kind of return to the taxpayer. So have at it.

    Thursday, November 17, 2016 Report this

  • moreofthesame

    The captain.....clearly you are proud of yourself....

    Why don't you state who you are and run for office? With your everyman outlook and non patronizing manner, you'd be a shoe in...

    It's more that though....your willingness not to generalize and your clear ability to build consensus are second to none. I realize now that I owe you a debt of gratitude! Clearly you are the last wall of defense. Perhaps you are the single greatest citizen Warwick has ever produced. We the people hearby draft you to be our saviour.....

    As to what I 've contributed/done for the city.....well, I raised two children here and completely funded their private education in parochial schools. I've paid in excess of $200,000 in taxes during my time living here and have not been a financial burden to the city. In addition, I've built and redeveloped numerous properties. I've helped turn blighted areas and properties into something useful and sold them at fair prices so regular working people could afford them. I raised my children to give back to their community. They have collected food and helped provide shelter to those less fortunate. I could go on.....

    While I understand your frustration, I don't agree with the way you disparage people and generalize complex issues....you just come across as a condescending blowhard bully.....you should work on that.....okay????

    Thursday, November 17, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Moreof the same,

    All this from someone who only offers disparagement, and still, as of your last post, offers no solution, and still remains anonymous. I would be interested in any comments that indicate that you have the basic knowledge of the city budget, the cost over-runs, or the outlook on unfunded liabilities. When you do, I would welcome that debate. I look forward you to your address to the council on Monday at 7pm. By the way, I'm not the savior, just the messenger, and a "thank you" would suffice. Also, speaking in general, your condescending attitude and attempt to trivialize that what you have yet to accomplish speaks volumes.

    As far as what you have contributed " raised two children here and completely funded their private education in parochial schools. I've paid in excess of $200,000 in taxes during my time living here and have not been a financial burden to the city. In addition, I've built and redeveloped numerous properties. I've helped turn blighted areas and properties into something useful and sold them at fair prices so regular working people could afford them. I raised my children to give back to their community. They have collected food and helped provide shelter to those less fortunate. I could go on.....

    Ummm, how does that help the city moving forward, and why do you remain anonymous and not participate in your city council dealings?

    Thursday, November 17, 2016 Report this

  • JohnStark

    Captain,

    In your insightful list of recommendations you left one off: Decertification of the teachers' union. Why do public sector unions exist in the first place, and Why do taxpayers have any formal or legal obligation to recognize them? An overwhelming majority of adults in the country do not belong to unions and do not work with a contract. Public sector unions may (May!) have served a purpose fifty years ago but have long outlived their usefulness.

    Saturday, November 19, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    John Stark,

    Here here, you are on the money !!!

    Sunday, November 20, 2016 Report this