Letter: Teacher pay freeze wouldn't have disastrous
consequences
Published: Wednesday, January 6,
2010 6:40 PM EST
To the Editor:
Dr. Ottolenghi (Worthington News, Dec. 16) opined that a pay
freeze would result in teacher losses -- I assume he means
"losses at an unacceptable rate." I must respectfully
disagree.
Does anyone really believe that there would be some sort of
mass exodus if pay were not increased 5 or 6 percent over a
two- or three-year period? Sure, a few teachers might look
elsewhere, but that's a positively rosy scenario when
compared to failed levies and the resultant educational
cuts.
State funding for our district is in decline; taxpayers at
the local level must pickup the slack. Voters can understand
this and might be willing authorize the next levy if this is
the primary issue. If teacher pay raises can't be checked,
the primary issue next levy time will once again be teacher
pay.
Our teachers and administration are doing a great job -- can
the board show some mettle and do the same?