Nerves fray as Pinellas debates budget mess

The budget crisis facing Pinellas schools was not on the agenda at Tuesday night's School Board meeting, but the issue took center stage anyway, making for some tense moments.

About 60 Pinellas teachers appeared in black clothing to protest the Legislature's decision to cut education funding, leaving Pinellas with a $40-million deficit. Kim Black (left), president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, said the protest was "to symbolize the grief we feel" over the cuts, which in Pinellas may translate to a pay freeze for the coming school year.

Black praised district officials for working to avoid an earlier proposal to cut salaries by 2 percent, a move made possible by increasing health insurance premiums. But she added: "Now we need to find just a little bit more (in the budget) so that the impact of the increase in health premiums can be offset by a modest salary increase."

Black also proposed several budget cutting ideas, including a one-year moratorium on teacher training; postponing the district's compliance with the class size amendment; a one-year stoppage in textbook purchases and a return to the four-day work week during the summer months.

That led to a discussion later in the meeting that had some board members sniping at each other and reacting to teachers, who alternately applauded and voiced displeasure.

Board member Mary Brown said her priority was to keep all district employees working and that teachers shouldn't get a raise at the expense of others on the payroll. "If we do it for one group, we should do it for all," she said. "I want to do it in a manner that people's jobs will be spared."

Board member Linda Lerner complained that the district asked the public for budget cutting ideas but hadn't taken the time to consider them fully. She asked for more meeting time to discuss the budget beyond the 80-minute discussion scheduled for Thursday's workshop. Board member Nancy Bostock responded, saying "one or two board members" had monopolized recent discussions on the budget and caused the board to be unproductive. "Talking and making good decisions are two different things," she said.

"I don't appreciate that feedback," Lerner said.

After more speeches and a good deal of testy back and forth, the board decided to hold a special workshop on the budget, probably next week.

Comments

[Raye]

Bill--Grow a brain.

10:19's comments are about as classy as Bill's from 10:36 and both say more about the character of poster than they do about the person they were posting about!

Um, 1:32 PM? She gave that black boy back to the state.

[Ann E. Mouse]

Way to go Pinellas CTA. Are you paying attention Hillsborough CTA. Imagine a teachers' union that actually organizes it teachers into action!

[pinellas teacher]

Doesn't every job have a break room? Is there anyone posting who can say that they have never had a single bad day, regardless of how much they love their job? Only teachers complain from time to time?

Please give me a break - we are all human. If we lived up to the sum of the expectations in society every teacher would have to be sainted.

[Mud]

Bill, that was childish...
Shawn, teachers even have a special room to talk and complain about being teachers, it's called the teachers lounge.

Like anyone can beat Nancy Bostock. She rocks! She really cares about all the kids. Adopting that black boy and all. He's lucky to have a home!

Newsflash: Nancy Bostock is leaving to pursue a county commission job. She is as bad as Wilcox, using the school system to jump start their careers.

[Shawn Siede]

This goes to Bill, keep your personal comments to yourself. There is not reason stoop to the level of calling someone fat. How old are you?? Two?? Grow Up you Sexist__!! I am a teacher and I am offended that you think all teachers do is sit around and talk. I am so tired of those who are not in education talking about stuff they do not have a clue about.
If you think you can do better go to college get a degree and join us in the classroom and we will see how long you last. This goes out to everyone who has a problem with teachers!

[minnie]

Many of the ideas brought forth will not bring a salary raise.No one paid attention when the Board changed the language of the referendum.This gave way to not using the ref for raises.Textbook money can't be used for salaries.We should look into year round schooling and shut the schools for 2 weeks-every 6 weeks or so.See if it saves.Stop wasting money on ineffective programs.Get rid of the large central office and give the money to the schools.

[Bill]

Look at that pig Kim Black. Ever notice the more militant a teacher is, the fatter she seems to be?

Linda Lerner wants to sit around and talk about things. She was playing to the crowd. All talk no action.

Nancy Bostock has a brain and wants to actually accomplish something. The time of teachers sitting around and celebrating their latest pregnancy or how many girl scout cookies their grandaughter has sold is over. It's time for them to do actual work.

Linda Learner and Mary Brown are educational leaders. They represent the students, teachers and community. Nancy should leave now, before she inflicts more damage to education.

You mean they are not getting along well? Such nice women sniping at one another, what a shame.