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Health & Fitness

Commack- You Gotta VOTE

it is apparent the Commack School Board has "sold-out" the kids. Why do Commack residents stand by and allow this?

The Commack BOE has constructed a budget that once again will strip away another layer of quality from education in this community. This is the Board's annual answer every year since 2005.  They fund salary increases for district employees by taking from the kids: cutting teachers; cutting programs; cutting arts and enrichment; firing coaches; eliminating teams. The cuts since 2005 are extraordinary. Meanwhile, the Board has continued in its generosity toward its employees.  There is one bucket of money and if you continue to feed the employee compensation side, then you do so by robbing from the student side. It's that simple. The BOE has chosen employees over students. They have lost sight of the purpose of the Board and have abandoned the kids.

It's not about teachers or administrators. It's all about the kids. Let's dismiss any argument you might hear about anybody being anti-teacher, purely because they want to enrich education.  We all appreciate teachers, although I cannot speak for their union, which oddly enough opts to see 40 teachers get fired, rather than have 640 members take any form of a cut to salary or benefits. If that's brotherhood, then let me be an only child. 

 The 2012 budget has a modest increase, which, by design will keep voter turnout low. The BOE asks for only 2.6% when we really need 4.5%. Why would the board not request what they really need?  Because it's quieter to cut the budget verus asking for bigger money. The bigger the increase, the more voters come out to defeat it. It helps their incumbent keep her board seat by having lower voter turnout. Where's the courage in that. Once again, the kids are losing in a big way that should alarm residents of this community.   You're spending the money, $171m, but not optimizing spending for the kids.

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 The system is broken and the existing compensation model is unsustainable. The existing Board is unable or unwilling to change it. In either case, you must step up and vote for a board trustee that has the courage to challenge the BOE. Elect a Trustee that will be an advocate for the students and the community. We need to change direction and elect a strong person that will begin the necessary dialogue to make required adjustments to the broken model.  Dan Fusco appears ready for the challenge.

 All you need to do is come out and vote.  The power is with each of you.

Find out what's happening in Commackwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

-G. Morgan

 

 

 

 

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