Ventnor Teachers Contract situation

[Larry Pacentrilli]

As this is my first contribution to this forum, I'd like to thank others on this forum and around town for your expressions of support as the BOE is doing what we can within the established protocols to hold the line on spending. The negotiations process is frustrating for both sides. The BOE is frustrated because we firmly believe we made a very good contract offer to the teachers union last November, only to see it immediately rejected. Unfortunately, we are legally prohibited from sharing the details of our offer, but I can share with you my belief that health care considerations are the main obstacle. Ventnor taxpayers currently pay over $16,000 per year per teacher on average for their health care benefits. This year that cost went up by 13.4%; next year we've been informed it will go up by 20%. We can no longer expect the Ventnor taxpayers to bear the full burden of these benefits without some cost-saving concessions from our employees. The BOE insists on negotiating for health care cost savings; thus far the union has refused to negotiate on our main cost-saving initiative. Therefore, we've been at an impasse. Over the past few months, the teachers have shown up enmasse at our BOE meetings to state their concerns and press for a settlement totally on their terms. Very few Ventnor taxpayers come to these meetings, and parents of school age children do not feel comfortable speaking out against the teachers union. Please don't let that keep you from coming out and getting a better feel for a situation that affects us all. In the current situation, just being there and saying nothing is really saying "something." The BOE members will understand and appreciate that "something." Or next meeting is Wed evening, Feb 25th at 6:00 PM. We generally deal with the teachers contract issue first so you'd likely be home by 7:00 PM. Hope to see you there. LP

[Eileen Todaleft]

Information is always helpful in sorting the truth from the rumors...

Any truth to the rumor that there are only 15 teachers whose insurance would be (or would have been) affected? And what are the total savings to the School Board budget with a change in insurance?

Thanks for the insight!

[New08406]

Until reading this I had no idea so much of the expense was for insurance benefits.

[Death and Taxes]

- for anyone else who has thought that a School Board meeting was mostly for parents of students currently in the schools, maybe this is a time to reconsider.

[pipemaster]

I also want to thank you Mr. Pacentrelli for shedding some light on this situation.

I think it time that Ventnor show up in mass at the School Board Meeting and let these spoiled teachers know that we are no longer willing or able to meet their extravagant demands!

[Larry Pacentrilli]

In response to the question about how many teachers might be directly affected by the BOE proposal, that might be getting too much into the details that we cannot discuss in public. Let me just say that the vast majority of our teachers currently enjoy an excellent health benefits package that we would like all of our teachers to participate in. If this were to happen, the annual savings to the taxpayers would be in the neighborhood of $130,000. LP

[BluesWomen]

I agree that the school board needs the support of us residents!! WE are the ones that pay for these incredible health benifet packages and these saleries!

I was clueless that it cost $16,000 a year to provide these teachers health benifits on top of their saleries!!!

I also still feel the teachers are thinking of nothing but THEMSELVES and I am STILL extremely angry and discouraged by their ability to take it out on OUR children.



HOW MANY OF THESE TEACHER'S LIVE IN VENTNOR AND ACTUALLY HAVE TO PAY INTO THE TAXES THEY ARE PLACING SUCH A HEAVY BURDEN UPON ????

[RUMORS]

Lets not forget the school buses. Bus picks kids up that live right around the corner from school. Anything wrong with walking or riding bike to school?
Rumor has it that most kids are picked up as a courtesy and not a necessity.

[Eileen Todaleft]

That's a good amount of money that could go right to programs...

[Walk Soft]

16,000.00 a year.....UAW look at Detroit...week ends holidays and beach time to boot sounds like a part time job mite be a good idea...I wouldn't want there job,but they chose to do it and that was what they wanted to do. So do what you chose to do and leave the ACTING like you do the job you chose to do as if its a good humanitarian gesture. Children are the future just like the teachers retirement fund. That's only going to be there if who you are teaching can afford to pay into if for you. Clue your mob boss I mean tell the Union REP it seems your ship might sink!