Tonight is the Board of Education Meeting - update on Petition Jan 16. 2013 | Comments (0)

Tomorrow is the Thompson School District Board of Education meeting and we will be presenting the petition with over 200 signatures!!

 Start:  6pm with the public comment part starting sometime between 6:15 and 6:30pm

End:  7pm approx. and you are welcome to stay for the balance of the meeting

Where:  800 S Taft Ave (East Facing door with a blue awning)

 The community response has been very positive and we are hopeful that the Board of Education (BOE) will put the petition on the February 20th Agenda for a vote and that the BOE will adopt the proposed policies.

 In summary we are asking the BOE to:

 1.  Stop processing applications for membership to the Thompson Education Assoc. (TEA - local union) and to stop collecting the membership dues. 

Why?  While not huge, the collection does add to the cost of administration, need to have a clear separation between the district and the union and the union should use their own resources in regards to membership activity.

 2.  Stop paying the salary and benefits of the TEA Union President  which the cost for the current president is $92,000 per year.

Why?  The current teacher who is the president, is paid $92,000 per year for salary and benefits and the union gave the district a cash reimbursement of $20,000 this year. In the future the amount will increase BUT ONLY if raises are given to teachers.  The union on average collects over $520,000 each year in dues and there is no reason money should be diverted from the classrooms to pay for the staff of the local union.

 3.  Open up the union negotiations for public observation.  Why?  So that everyone is aware of what is being asked for, countered with and then agreed to.  Last June the labor contract was voted on by the BOE without ANY details made public and when BOE member Bob Kerrigan made a motion to discuss during the budget adoption meeting, all of the district staff at the meeting (the room had over 150 people) stood up and booed Mr. Kerrigan.  With open negotiations all details will be public and available for discussions and review by all BOE members and the community and will help to create better communication and trust.

 4.  Have an open and transparent budgeting process which provides for all stakeholders of the community an opportunity to review, submit questions or object to the annual proposed budget and to receive a response to their concerns and/or questions.  Why?  While it is true that the BOE members are elected by the community to set policy for the district, it is also true that the BOE has an obligation to clearly explain where our money is being spent and why.

 If you have not yet signed the petition please take a few moments and add your name to the growing list of fellow citizens who support the above policies for a more transparent and accountable school district which will in the end benefit students of today and tomorrow.

Thank you all for your support and see you tomorrow evening!

 In Liberty,

 Nancy & Robert Rumfelt

Liberty Watch

Your donation now, at this critical moment, will help Liberty Watch magnify your voices and give you the tools you need to make a difference.

Liberty Watch is a non-profit grassroots organization. We rely on the generosity of our supporters to help us operate which includes monitoring the State Legislature and local governments and providing educational events and tools to help fellow citizens become active and effective in preserving Liberty.

Unlike our government, we cannot print, borrow or tax to fund our work. All that we do is solely dependent on supporters who share our commitment to our core principles of  limited government, fiscal responsibility and free enterprise. Join us and invest in Liberty today!  Liberty Watch operates as a 501c4 and all donations are not tax deductible