Wednesday,September 17, 2003

Central office pay goes up, while schools suffer

I am writing this letter anonymously for the obvious reason that I am employed as a teacher in the Fayette County School System. I have just read the Sunday edition of your paper and I am livid after reading the article about the decision of the Board of Education to increase the millage rate.

I am tired of the seeming "bye" that the school system seems to get in every decision that it makes, that results in spending more money, is excused away with "we're getting less from the state."

I know the schools are getting less, but I think that if the main funding source is providing less, then it is time for everyone to spend less.

Has anyone in the media been paying any attention as the county office went through a reorganization? If so, you would now see that many people now have new titles. With these new titles have come substantial increases in pay.

When questioned, Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis said that this reorganization resulted in replacing seven positions. Those seven positions might have been eliminated, but when you change titles, create new positions and replace the people, it looks to me as if nothing has been accomplished.

Also I now see that the school system is getting ready to hire another assistant superintendent and another position to look after the school system's assets (look and see how many more assistant superintendents we have now versus this time last year).

Of course most of this change was covered with the fact that there was consideration also being given for a half of a percent pay increase for teachers that was not fundable at this time, but was to be considered again later in the year.

I have no problem with providing the necessary support personnel to maintain the excellent school system we have in Fayette County, but I feel that during "lean times" everyone has to make sacrifices.

I had absolutely no problem when Governor Perdue said that the state would not be able to fund a pay increase for teachers this year. I sure did not feel that I was "betrayed" by the governor after supporting his election. I didn't expect a payoff. I know that government has to operate the same as my household: When money runs short, you have to cut expenses!

I did not go into education with the intention of getting rich. During the two decades I have been a teacher in this county, we have had many years that we got no raises as the economy was going through a rough period. The "word" came down from the county office that we were going to have to get by this year with less.

We have eight fewer teachers at my school this year than last and we have more students. I can accept having classes with over 30 students, but I resent when I feel that what I do in the classroom is treated as being less important than what administrators are asked to do. If I am asked to do more with less in the classroom, why can't we ask county office personnel to do more with less?

Why if these administrators are asked to do more are they given a new title and pay increase to go along with it? Who do they think they are in that what they do for the school system is so much more important than what I do? What are we producing anyway? I thought our purpose is the education of our children, and the last time I checked, that happens in the classroom.

I know that when considering the millions that the school system spends, that the money involved in this complaint may seem small, but symbolism means a lot. We teach our children by setting good examples for them to follow. We know that our actions speak volumes. We should also expect that our school leaders also set the example for the entire school system to follow.

What I am asking from you is that the same scrutiny that you are giving to all of the local government entities you also give to the school system. I have been following you for years and I respect your work. I thank you for the opportunity to vent.

A very concerned Fayette County educator and taxpayer

[Editor's note: The contents of this letter were shown to Superintendent John DeCotis, and he was given opportunity to respond to the charges in the letter.]