Poll Results: Readers Are as Split as 109 Parties

With mediation resuming today to end the stalemate over the expired contract between the and , Patch readers are as divided as the parties.

According to the results of the latest unscientific Patch Poll gauging reader opinion on how much of a pay increase the teachers should receive, more people agree with union members, but nearly as many concur with the District.

In one of the best responses yet to a Patch Poll, with 49 percent (119 readers) agreeing with the union’s proposal growing automatic increases while 42 percent (103 readers) think the District’s suggestion to reduce scheduled hikes is correct. Only nine percent (21 readers) would keep it the same.

While the major issues separating the union and the District are special education, teacher evaluation, compensation and benefits, readers were focused on compensation both in their comments to the poll and a story published Saturday about the status of the mediation.

John Russillo puts a special premium on pay and benefits to teachers despite a growing trend in the private sector to limit increased salaries and pass part of growing health care costs on to employees.

“Maybe there are those of us who don't consider our own personal situations when evaluating these negotiations,” Russillo writes. “Maybe money is better spent on teachers than cars, 401ks, and PhDs.”

Other readers, like Randy Mungerson, think teachers should be treated like people working in the private sector. He works for a Fortune 300 company where average increases over the last two years have been nonexistent.

“Our average salary increase last two years..... 0 percent,” Mungerson writes. “Average salary increase over five years, 3.75 percent. Average increase to Healthcare cost to employees for (healthcare) last three years more than 18 percent. Why should taxpayers give teachers more than what they're are getting in the private sector?”

Another reader, Mara Meyer, has faith in the School Board but wants it to use its creativity to the teachers’ benefit.

“Trust should be in the Board for the Good Faith bargaining,” Meyer writes. “If the current salary schedule cannot be maintained, creatively restructuring without loss to any individual employee would be productive.”

Others, like reader Harry Steindler, remain focused on a good outcome from these talks for special education .

“The teachers’ proposal includes a number of provisions that I believe are important as we strive to make sure that our students with special needs receive first class services,” Steindler writes. He likes the idea of keeping teachers and other professionals part of the process.

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