On Sunday afternoon, my wife and I were informed via email that all Back to School Night Programs scheduled for Thursday are cancelled. This is due in part because the Haddonfield Education Association “HEA” has decided that the teachers will not participate since contract negotiations are at a standstill. What a disgrace!
The union and their members should be embarrassed about this decision and the board of education is not off of the hook either. Settle the issues like adults and stop playing games with my child’s education. I am interested in my child’s education and this is a beneficial night to meet the teacher, here what is planned for the year and meet the parents of the other students in my child’s class! “We” (the residents of Haddonfield), pay a tremendous amount of money each year in taxes to fund the salaries of these teachers and administrators. And with a median teacher salary of $57,597, I would say they are compensated fairly with the administrators earning even more.
In 2011, “we” voted and passed the school budget and “we” incurred a tax increase of 1.73 percent. There were no cuts to the staff or the programs offered. Sounds like a win/win to me! Maybe next year when it comes time to vote, “we” vote it down and reduce the staff. I don’t think the newest person hired would appreciate that but for those teachers who have been in the district for 15 plus years, you really don’t care of about your co-worker anyway. After all, you have “paid your dues” right! And if paying into your healthcare is a major issue of concern, get over it and get over it quickly! You have been asked to pay 1.5 percent of your salary into healthcare benefits. For a teacher making $57,597, you have been asked to pitch in $863.96 per year! $863.96 PER YEAR!
My wife and I pay over $2,400 per year and we are fortunate! We also have higher co-pays for visits and prescriptions, so be thankful for your 1.5 percent contribution. If you don’t like the benefit, then opt out…you might save a co-workers position next year or even better yet, reduce my tax burden! I hope you enjoy the two hours on Thursday night!
Brian J. Poliafico
