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Teachers join to voice concerns

Marcia Haar, president of the Longmeadow Educational Associaton, is surrounded by fellow teachers holding signs that state "Sympathy is no substitute for action."Reminder Publications photo by Courtney Llewellyn
By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW The School Committee agenda states the purpose of visitor comments and questions is to "gather input." Dozens of Longmeadow teachers dressed head to toe in black squeezed into the School Committee Room in the high school to make sure their input was heard at last week's special School Committee meeting.

After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting with an extra emphasis on the phrase "with liberty and justice for all!" Longmeadow Educational Association (LEA) President Marcia Haar addressed the School Committee.

With black and red signs declaring "Sympathy is no substitute for action," Haar stated, "When the teachers left school last summer, we had an understanding everything was done. One penny of our raises has yet to be seen. We are at the same pay rate we were in 2005-2006. Inflation and raises in the cost of healthcare make us worse off today than we were two years ago."

Haar added the teachers of Longmeadow are "committed to our jobs and your children," and the retroactive and current payment of the teachers' contracts is not only a school issue, but a societal issue.

"All of Longmeadow and Massachusetts benefit from an educated citizenry," she said.

Haar concluded her commentary with an old teacher's adage: "Play fair and keep your promises."

Thunderous applause filled the room as Haar stepped away from the microphone. The teachers quieted quickly, however, as they waited for the response from the School Committee.

"We all feel equally frustrated," Geoff Weigand, committee chair, said. "We feel empathy for you." The noise of the teachers' signs being shaken came as a reply.

"The plan is moving forward," Weigand said. "It's not as simple as covering one year of deficit, though. It's a much bigger problem, one that's been growing the past few years."

He explained revenue is limited, coming from grants, state aid and Chapter 70 funds, as well as taxes paid by residents. "Free cash" from the state must also be certified before it can be used by the town and it will not be certified until Oct. 19.

Enrollment numbers are also important in determining state aid and Superintendent Jahn Hart's report stated enrollment is down in the district by 59 students a decrease smaller than those in 2005-06 (73) and 2006-07 (88). "The impact is not huge, but it's not trivial," committee member Rob Aseltine said.

"Salary calculations are important to get right," Weigand added. A ripple of ironic laughter came from those in attendance.

"On Nov. 6, voters will get to choose the levels of quality to be maintained," Weigand stated, referring to the town's vote on Proposition 2 1/2, an override of $2.15 million.

If approved, the money from the override would be appropriated at the town meeting on Nov. 27. If the override is not approved, teachers should still expect their pay soon. According to conversations between Weigand and the town's chief financial officer, the money to pay for the teachers' contracts could be included in one of their pay periods in December.

"Merry Christmas," one teacher muttered.

At the end of the committee's response, the teachers filed out of the room and the building but their cheers could still be heard.

"The teachers have an expectation. We understand it and we're moving forward as best and expeditiously as we can," Weigand told Reminder Publications. "Our plans and the timeline we wanted them completed in may not mesh. No one expected this payment delay."

"When we were negotiating, the School Committee never mentioned the need for an override," Haar said. "If it had been mentioned, we may have taken a different strategy during negotiations. You would think people in their positions would have a handle on the budget."

Haar also said that at least one teacher is seeking employment elsewhere because of the contract payment issue, and others have come to her saying they are having problems paying for child care or the mortgages on their homes.

"It's a hardship for us all," she said.

Jerold Duquette, a member of the School Committee, knows the contract issue will be resolved, but it may be in a way that's detrimental to the entire town.

"The teachers' raises are not dependent on the override and no teachers can be laid off to balance the FY08 budget," he said. "If the override fails, the town will pay its obligations by spending our emergency reserves." He added that working with emergency funds like that would be like "working without a net."

A public forum to discuss the referendum of an override of Proposition 2 1/2 for $2.15 million to fund town and school operating expenses will be held Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of Longmeadow High School.