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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by Redhead
Posted by dengal
As a frustrated taxpayer, I'm not blaming teacher's for the increase in taxes. As time goes by, I understand costs are going to rise - along with salaries. The problem is that while Teacher's (and other staff) may be getting a 2-5% increase per year, why are the overall increases up 10-15%?
I AGREE!
The reasons for the increases were explained in at least three previous posts. Also, please read the mail that comes from your school district. Every school district must publish the highlights of the budget for all residents. The full budget is available for your viewing at every district office. I know I have received at least three pieces of mail from my home district FULLY explaining the reasons why. It's not junk mail. They are informing you. The district can't help it if you do not read the mailings. If you would like the opportunity to ask questions or voice your opinion, the full budget is explained at SEVERAL board of ed. meetings in EVERY district that every resident is informed on via mail and usually via a sign in front of at least one of the school district buildings. If that is not convienent for you and if you threw out the mailings, you can also get this information via most school districts web sites. What more can they do?
Districts do a lot to inform the public but if the public is going to be apathetic and does not want to read the information then we do not have an informed electorate and that is dangerous.
An example of this apathy took place recently in Hempstead. This is a district that needs so much. I felt terribly for those kids when onlly FIVE residents showed up to the high school auditorium to hear the presentation on the budget vote. News 12 covered the story of the empty auditorium. Truly sad.
A democracy is only as strong as the electorate is educated, informed and views their citizenship and right to vote in a responsible manner. At least that's what the Ancient Greeks said on the matter. Given our current society not sure if everyone still wants to "take the trouble". I know I'm in the classroom trying everyday to do my part to make sure my students take such matters and their right to vote and responsibility on bring informed and educated seriously.
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Posted 5/23/05 10:52 AM  |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Budget Votes
actually i am MORE concerned with DIFFERENT SD's other than MINE. So i have no use in reading info that is sent to my home.
AND i do believe that Sachem SD residents feel they were LIED TO. Deceived...and when they were faced with a 18% INCREASE...they voted NO!
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| Posted 5/23/05 11:55 AM |
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dawn0717
LIF Infant
Member since 5/05 235 total posts
Name:
Kim
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by Redhead
Theresa...
to be honest with you...i really don't care WHY or WHAT or HOW.....
and 18% increase is RIDICULOUS.
I think that these tax increases are out of control. Is that because of Pataki well fine.. But in all honesty i am STILL going to vote a budget down with a proposed increase like that.
I am with you! There is nothing anyone could say that would justify and 18% increase. My kids are in Sachem and I want the best eductaion for them but a lot of the things they were proposing were ridiculous!!!
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| Posted 5/23/05 3:10 PM |
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bellarina
She's my dancing queen!
Member since 5/05 1752 total posts
Name:
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by Redhead
AND i do believe that Sachem SD residents feel they were LIED TO. Deceived...and when they were faced with a 18% INCREASE...they voted NO!
I agree too, 18% is cruel! Perhaps it's strategy knowing that they were high and expected for that budget to go down so the revised one looks SO much better? Hmmmmmm.... makes me think so!
Message edited 5/23/2005 7:31:27 PM.
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| Posted 5/23/05 5:46 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH
Actually there is A LOT of misinformation out there. The massive increases are not due to increases in teacher's salaries.
I teach in Seaford. We are third from the bottom in pay in Nassau. Next year, I will get a 2.5% raise. It does not keep up with inflation and technically I'm losing money staying there. Hey my taxes went up too.
The budgets are increasing so much because our Gov. Pataki is severely cutting the percentage of state aid to school districts. Legally, Medicare/Medicaid are state mandated programs (state must pay no matter what the increase is) and the percentage they take up of the total budget is increasing. That means he must cut other areas so he is cutting state aid to public school districts and shifting the burden on the individual homeowners.
Second, he has cut commercial real estate tax in order to keep business and industry from moving out of the state. Again, shifting more of the burden on individual homeowners.
Third, he views LIers as a bunch of rich fat cats and he is shifting money away from us and pumping it into the NYC schools. We all know that while NYC schools need more money they also need better overall societal values to turn them around.
These are the real reasons why taxes have gone up. If you read the literature from your district despite the increase each and every one of them have made SEVERE cuts.
The irony in all of this is that contingency budgets are only a few percentage points less than budgets that are put up for a vote.
Seaford voted the budget down. Do you know what the average savings to the tax payer is between budget #1 and budget #2? $60. a year. They spend more than that at Starbucks in a two week period.
I don't disagree that the budget increases are out of control but I wish more residents were informed about the real facts as to why they are so high.
Don't be angry at your superintendent or teachers. We should all be angry at Gov. Pataki.
If anyone wants the real facts on their home districts budget feel free to FM me and I'll get them for you.
Go to the local budget hearings in your district where you can listen and SPEAK your opinion. What does it say to our kids when people don't attend those meetings and just vote based on what they hear in the media?
P.S. Don't believe everything you read in Newsday. They are very anti-cop, anti-fire-fighters and anti-teachers.
This is great information, thanks
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| Posted 5/23/05 5:57 PM |
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Debbie
Life is berry good!
Member since 5/05 1229 total posts
Name:
Debbie
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by kelly4
Ours passed and we received a break down of where the money would go. Most went to teachers increase. Which I have to say, I don't agree with.
And I only get a 2% raise every year. 2.5% is bad but it could be worse
I'm sorry to hear that you feel teachers don't desserve that 2.5% increase. Teachers don't have the opportunity to move around in jobs to increase their salaries like other professions. We are required to constantly increase our education by taking post graduate courses using our own money- and these classes are VERY expensive. Other professions will send their employees for training and pay for it! That is unfair. We are also required to teach with a masters degree while many other higher paying positions don't. We work long and hard- not the 9-3:30 day the kids are with us. We come in on our own time early and stay well past our contractual time making sure YOUR children get the best possible education. We call you at night if it is the best time to reach you to discuss YOUR child if there are any concerns. We give up our lunches for YOUR child. We take our work home with us on weekends so we can get things done so we can spend the valuable time YOUR child is in our classroom wisely. It takes teachers YEARS to earn a good salary. We just don't walk in making $60+ a year! Teachers who make a lot of money do so after teaching in a district for 30 years and spending a lot of their own money increasing their education to keep up with the fast changing standards that ensure YOUR child is receiving the best possible education.
Now- what other working person would give up so much of thier free time and money for their job like teachers do and get slapped in the face with comments that they are making too much money? Do you think you would be able to do this?
I was at a board of ed meeting where a woman spoke up about teacher's salaries. She agreed with you that teachers make too much and that both her and her husband have to work full time to afford living in this great school district. She insisted that we all make $30k a year and that was fair! Why is it fair that I am teaching your child in a great district but make so little that I can't afford to send my own children to a good district? Because I'm a teacher I have to send my kids to a crapy school district so you can afford to stay home and send your kids to a great one? 
We are very underappreciated and overblamed for too much and it has to stop!
Again, if you don't like the tax increases you have to do your part in getting the money back into the schools by writing your congress and assembly men and take a stand where the state spends it's money.
You took the words right out of my MOUTH!! Well put! For one day, I'd like someone who thinks we are overpaid to come and try and teach in my classroom.
Message edited 5/24/2005 10:29:03 PM.
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| Posted 5/24/05 10:26 PM |
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christy
Mommy of 2
Member since 5/05 6787 total posts
Name:
Christy
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Re: Budget Votes
I hate this ongoing argument, because bottom line is, if you are not a teacher you will never truly understand how hard we work, and that is isnt a nine to three job with summers off. What upsets me most is the fact that people think that the majority of the budget going towards teachers salaries is rediculous. It is a public service, this is where we get our salary from. I make the same amount of money as most of you, and do not get raises of more than 4% ever...most years it is 1, or 2 %. The majority of a school district is made up of the teachers. There are a lot of us. We work hard and deserve to be paid a comparable salary to people in other professions because we are hard working professionals that have to live here on Long Island and PAY long island taxes too. I find it to be so hurtful that the majority of people dont feel that teachers today are worth their salaries (which are not as high as you think). I dont even make 60,000 a year, I have student loans like everyone else and will probably never own a house here.
Message edited 5/25/2005 8:15:51 AM.
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| Posted 5/25/05 8:07 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Budget Votes
This thread wasn't about saying that teachers are over paid in anyway...
So for people turn it into that is silly...
this was a general talk about budget increases...
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| Posted 5/25/05 8:35 AM |
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bellarina
She's my dancing queen!
Member since 5/05 1752 total posts
Name:
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by Redhead
This thread wasn't about saying that teachers are over paid in anyway...
So for people turn it into that is silly...
this was a general talk about budget increases...
someone started in on teachers and I guess we felt we had to defend ourselves. That's all. It;s a stressful time for all of us. Teachers and non-teachers trying to make it on LI.
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| Posted 5/25/05 5:11 PM |
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Palebride
I am an amazing bakist
Member since 5/05 13673 total posts
Name:
Lori
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by christy
I hate this ongoing argument, because bottom line is, if you are not a teacher you will never truly understand how hard we work, and that is isnt a nine to three job with summers off. What upsets me most is the fact that people think that the majority of the budget going towards teachers salaries is rediculous. It is a public service, this is where we get our salary from. I make the same amount of money as most of you, and do not get raises of more than 4% ever...most years it is 1, or 2 %. The majority of a school district is made up of the teachers. There are a lot of us. We work hard and deserve to be paid a comparable salary to people in other professions because we are hard working professionals that have to live here on Long Island and PAY long island taxes too. I find it to be so hurtful that the majority of people dont feel that teachers today are worth their salaries (which are not as high as you think). I dont even make 60,000 a year, I have student loans like everyone else and will probably never own a house here.
exactly!!
and even if the thread didn't start out making statements about teachers and their salaries, they are both directly related so, of course, it was going to go in that direction.
As a teacher who has taught with no budget and no contract for the entire year in a wealthy district, I'm sick of hearing people say I don't work hard enough and that I'm getting paid too much money.
I'm sick of people arguing about budgets. Yes, 18% is insane and they KNEW it wasn't going to pass....but they wanted to try. Now they know to lower it. Now they know what the community thinks. But they had no way of knowing that until they tried.
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| Posted 5/25/05 5:22 PM |
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christy
Mommy of 2
Member since 5/05 6787 total posts
Name:
Christy
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by Palebride
Posted by christy
I hate this ongoing argument, because bottom line is, if you are not a teacher you will never truly understand how hard we work, and that is isnt a nine to three job with summers off. What upsets me most is the fact that people think that the majority of the budget going towards teachers salaries is rediculous. It is a public service, this is where we get our salary from. I make the same amount of money as most of you, and do not get raises of more than 4% ever...most years it is 1, or 2 %. The majority of a school district is made up of the teachers. There are a lot of us. We work hard and deserve to be paid a comparable salary to people in other professions because we are hard working professionals that have to live here on Long Island and PAY long island taxes too. I find it to be so hurtful that the majority of people dont feel that teachers today are worth their salaries (which are not as high as you think). I dont even make 60,000 a year, I have student loans like everyone else and will probably never own a house here.
exactly!!
and even if the thread didn't start out making statements about teachers and their salaries, they are both directly related so, of course, it was going to go in that direction.
As a teacher who has taught with no budget and no contract for the entire year in a wealthy district, I'm sick of hearing people say I don't work hard enough and that I'm getting paid too much money.
I'm sick of people arguing about budgets. Yes, 18% is insane and they KNEW it wasn't going to pass....but they wanted to try. Now they know to lower it. Now they know what the community thinks. But they had no way of knowing that until they tried.
well said lori!
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| Posted 5/25/05 5:31 PM |
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christy
Mommy of 2
Member since 5/05 6787 total posts
Name:
Christy
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by Redhead
This thread wasn't about saying that teachers are over paid in anyway...
So for people turn it into that is silly...
this was a general talk about budget increases...
I dont feel that a lot of comments I read were that general.
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| Posted 5/25/05 5:33 PM |
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MsG
Should be working
Member since 5/05 2824 total posts
Name:
G
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Re: Budget Votes
I don't think teachers are paid too much at all, BUT I can understand in light of the Roslyn scandal that tax payers may want more accountability and may feel that school $$$ is being spent inappropriately, or criminally.
From what my teacher friends tell me, it is sometimes the administrators who are paid enormous salaries without really being pro-school. Meaning they talk about making positive change but they are more interested in keeping a political face on.
ETA: for those who don't know what happened in Roslyn, here's a link from the State Comptroller's office:Roslyn scandal
IMO, school districts should have regular but surprise audits
Message edited 5/25/2005 6:42:11 PM.
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| Posted 5/25/05 6:38 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by Palebride
exactly!!
and even if the thread didn't start out making statements about teachers and their salaries, they are both directly related so, of course, it was going to go in that direction.
As a teacher who has taught with no budget and no contract for the entire year in a wealthy district, I'm sick of hearing people say I don't work hard enough and that I'm getting paid too much money.
I'm sick of people arguing about budgets. Yes, 18% is insane and they KNEW it wasn't going to pass....but they wanted to try. Now they know to lower it. Now they know what the community thinks. But they had no way of knowing that until they tried.
i am sorry but i disagree....i think some of us can be happy that the budget was voted down because we do not want an increase in our taxes....I THINK that posting about that the area that i want to live WILL NOT get a 18% increase in taxes....is perfectly fine and NO teacher salaries and how hard they work or whether they deserve this or that DID NOT have to be brought into this thread
So people LIKE ME....are just worried about the tax increases and being able to afford a home on LI....
NOT every post about the school budget implies we do not think teachers are doing their job....
IF FACT...i know they are...BUT i think a 18% increase is OUTRAGEOUS....
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| Posted 5/26/05 8:31 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by christy
Posted by Redhead
This thread wasn't about saying that teachers are over paid in anyway...
So for people turn it into that is silly...
this was a general talk about budget increases...
I dont feel that a lot of comments I read were that general.
the first couple of comments were about the budgets that were voted down....IT WASN"T until TAHWEESAHH posted that the teachers aspect of it got brought in.
I feel bad for teachers but an 18% increase in a middle class area that ALREADY HAS high taxes imo is OUTRAGEOUS.
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| Posted 5/26/05 8:34 AM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Budget Votes
Well, my post was factual and the first one that actually posted concrete, yet general, reasons for the increase (meaning state budgetary adjustments in Albany).
I'm actually in the system, attend budget meetings in two districts where I own homes, correspond with Albany (have sent many a letter to my local and state reps about many issues) and have marched in Albany two years ago to protect cuts in state aid for my students. My post was not a whine about salaries. The main idea centered around the FACTS regarding the budgetary juggling that Pataki is up to.
If you do a formal or informal poll of LIers THEY ARE under the impression that it is because of teachers salaries. I've seen many and conducted several. Read Newsday, talk to people on the street, watch News 12, the majority of citizens they interview claim that.
I don't think it's "silly" to ask why something is the way it is. That would actually be a logical step in an inquiry process. Most people ask why, this is what makes us human.
I was raised to be, and consider it my civic responsibility to be, an informed, educated and active citizen. I don't speak on topics I don't have first hand knowledge of. I admit I'm not the expert and defer to people who are.
To vote for or against something is your right as a citizen but it is your civic responsibility to base your vote on FACTS. That's the cornerstone of any democracy. Oh, and that's not my opinion, it's stated and implied throughout our federal, state and local laws on the issue.
Red, if you want to debate the FACTS in a mature and enlightened way I'd be more than willing to but I, personally, don't and won't degrade myself by calling others who have more experience than me on a issue "silly". If this post is going to degenerate into such I won't be a part. I can use my time for much more constructive purposes.
Message edited 5/26/2005 9:24:16 AM.
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| Posted 5/26/05 9:22 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Budget Votes
I wasn't looking to debate ANYTHING actually...
was just expressing my HAPPINESS that the Sachem school district budget was VOTED DOWN....
THAT was what i posted about
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| Posted 5/26/05 9:28 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH
I was raised to be, and consider it my civic responsibility to be, an informed, educated and active citizen. I don't speak on topics I don't have first hand knowledge of. I admit I'm not the expert and defer to people who are.
To vote for or against something is your right as a citizen but it is your civic responsibility to base your vote on FACTS. That's the cornerstone of any democracy. Oh, and that's not my opinion, it's stated and implied throughout our federal, state and local laws on the issue.
Red, if you want to debate the FACTS in a mature and enlightened way I'd be more than willing to but I, personally, don't and won't degrade myself by calling others who have more experience than me on a issue "silly". If this post is going to degenerate into such I won't be a part. I can use my time for much more constructive purposes.
I VOTED on the facts....BUT i can NOT vote for sachem school district since i do NOT live there yet...
BUT if i had i would STILL have voted on the FACT that they want a 18 % INCREASE....
that is all i need to KNOW
and if you do not choose to be apart of this thread...don't
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| Posted 5/26/05 9:30 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Budget Votes
I VOTED on the facts....BUT i can NOT vote for sachem school district since i do NOT live there yet...
BUT if i had i would STILL have voted on the FACT that they want a 18 % INCREASE....
that is all i need to KNOW
and if you do not choose to be apart of this thread...don't
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| Posted 5/26/05 9:31 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Budget Votes
AND when i used the word SILLY...i meant that i didn't think this thread should be turned into a anti-teacher thread...THAT DOING THAT WAS SILLY
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| Posted 5/26/05 9:35 AM |
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stepherg
LIF Toddler
Member since 5/05 444 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Budget Votes
I agree with the budget votes being voted down! This is just getting ridiculous!! I'm not sure how I feel about the teacher's salaries because I honestly don't know what they make...but I DO know that most have the summer's off and that must be nice!
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| Posted 5/26/05 11:30 AM |
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sasha96
lovin' my 2 little ladies!
Member since 5/05 7401 total posts
Name:
Julianne
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by stepherg
but I DO know that most have the summer's off and that must be nice!
I would love to know what that's like too and I am a teacher! To afford living on Long Island I have worked every summer...summer programs, early intervention, etc. So many teachers I know work camps and retail too. It is also a time when we do so much of the continuing education Kelly mentioned.
All I'm saying is that I think it is a misconception of many that summers are just a 2 month vacation for teachers (not that it isn't for some...and boy, I'm jealous of them!). 
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| Posted 5/26/05 7:14 PM |
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bellarina
She's my dancing queen!
Member since 5/05 1752 total posts
Name:
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by sasha96
Posted by stepherg
but I DO know that most have the summer's off and that must be nice!
I would love to know what that's like too and I am a teacher! To afford living on Long Island I have worked every summer...summer programs, early intervention, etc. So many teachers I know work camps and retail too. It is also a time when we do so much of the continuing education Kelly mentioned.
All I'm saying is that I think it is a misconception of many that summers are just a 2 month vacation for teachers (not that it isn't for some...and boy, I'm jealous of them!).
BRAVO!
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| Posted 5/26/05 7:28 PM |
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justme1
Proud SAHM
Member since 5/05 1955 total posts
Name:
Jodi
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Re: Budget Votes
I guess I have a different opinion on this.
I obviously dont LOVE the idea of ever paying more in taxes but I also have my child in one of the best school districts on Long Island and Id like to keep it that way.
If paying a little more money ( I beleive my budget was about 10%) keeps my district one of the best then we are willing to pay for that.
If I didnt want my child to have better programs, more after school activities, free extra help whenever needed etcc.. I guess I could really just send him anywhere.
I want my sons teachers to be happy, they go out of their way all the time to make his school year so wonderful.
ANd its not just for the teachers, its for so many other things..updated computers, new and better books, maintence.. things I cant even think of off the top of my head.
I will always vote yes ( within reason) and hope that the money is really used for what its intended on.
And to the wonderful teachers, I think it is terrible that so many of you arent paid what you are worth. I hope one day that can change.
Personally I feel teachers should be making a doctors salary!
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| Posted 5/26/05 10:08 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Budget Votes
Posted by IslandGrl
I guess I have a different opinion on this.
I obviously dont LOVE the idea of ever paying more in taxes but I also have my child in one of the best school districts on Long Island and Id like to keep it that way.
If paying a little more money ( I beleive my budget was about 10%) keeps my district one of the best then we are willing to pay for that.
If I didnt want my child to have better programs, more after school activities, free extra help whenever needed etcc.. I guess I could really just send him anywhere.
I want my sons teachers to be happy, they go out of their way all the time to make his school year so wonderful.
ANd its not just for the teachers, its for so many other things..updated computers, new and better books, maintence.. things I cant even think of off the top of my head.
I will always vote yes ( within reason) and hope that the money is really used for what its intended on.
And to the wonderful teachers, I think it is terrible that so many of you arent paid what you are worth. I hope one day that can change.
Personally I feel teachers should be making a doctors salary!
although i agree with what you are saying...i would LOVE to be able to support the betterment of my future son/daughters education...But if i am unable to live here then what good will that do me or my child? Nothing
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| Posted 5/27/05 6:11 AM |
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