BERLIN– Teachers across the county wore black Friday in a show of unity following this week’s school funding decision by county officials.
At Buckingham Elementary School, dozens of educators huddled outside, waiting to enter the building not a minute before students arrived. Though a subtle display to those unfamiliar with the school, with their decision to resort to “work to rule,” meeting just the minimum required by their contracts, teachers are hoping to share their frustration with this week’s funding decision.
“We are disappointed that the county commissioners did not fund the education budget,” teacher Michael Booth said. “We’re concerned the services we’re providing are being shortchanged. We’re not sure if anything will change this cycle but we’re hoping to get the word out to the community so maybe things will change next year. The entire school is upset.”
On Tuesday, the Worcester County Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve a maintenance of effort budget of $100 million for Worcester County Public Schools. In the days since, educators have been sharing their disappointment and concern about how the reduction in funding will impact students and the education they’re provided in Worcester County’s public schools. Education officials have already said the amount of school system funding approved will not be enough to provide teachers and support staff with the 4% and 4.5% raises they were told they’d receive earlier this year.
Meredith Rayne, an educational assistant, said expectations of everyone in education were increasing and yet pay was not. Teacher Gloria Scafone said there were 21 kids in her class at Buckingham. With the shortage of educational assistants everywhere, there are times she has no support.
BooHoo – cry us a river and welcome to the real world. Your central office staff was playing games and got squashed. Next time they need to do as they are told. Instead of wearing black and playing the work to rule game, ask your idiot central office staff to fork over chunks of their salaries to cover your raise.
Now then, the rest of us will get back to work. You know, the rest of us who haven’t had raises in years. Let us know when you are finished with your little tantrum.
Good for the county commissioners. Stop wasting and hiding the waste and they’ll get the money they need. Teacher whining about 21 kids in her class and she doesn’t have an assistant? Shaking my head.
My second year of teaching I had 47 with an afternoon assistant at Pemberton. Stop whining about 21.
Boo hoo! You get paid well and have benefits others can only dream off. Blame the BOE for wasting funds that could go for your “raises” and classroom supplies that you so desperately need. Since when is a brand new Tahoe for a Superintendent more important than classroom supplies? BOE has played games for years and now it has caught up with them.
I guess they FAFO
Should have provided the documentation requested.
I have no sympathy.
Time for accountability of where the taxpayer money is going.
Meredith Rayne; Dunkin is hiring, go apply.
Bet you won’t get all those perks, holidays and summers off now will ya?
SMH
Needed services (schools, fire, LEOs, etc) always are at the bottom of the heap. Maintenance for all building is lacking, but building more and more and more, adding rumble strips and round abouts is priorty.
More exodus of teachers, shortages with lifeguards, 1st responders and hospitality will continue…….in the resort areas.
Lazy asses need to do your jobs and quit trying to blackmail the citizens. If you get the money your students test scores won’t get better. How can you demand more money when your results get worse every year? I am a teacher and we are working in a failed system. Got a money problem? Look at your overinflated administration.
Good for the county!
If the Board of Ed would allow some transparency as the county requested – this could come out differently.
Get some accountability for every penny currently spent – and you’ll probably find that the budget could be reduced due to inappropriate spending!
Give me a break…all they had to do was list what the money was for, but they refused. Too bad!
What a bunch of dramatic babies