Vacancy on the Greenwich School Board

[concernedcitizen]

First...eliminate the millionaire tax breaks. Taking money from the middle class and poor may ease the state's coffers. It is not "sharing the sacrifice" when the tax breaks are for the rich and the rest of us need to take pay cuts, pay more taxes and possibly lose our jobs because of the state's cuts to localities. I don't believe the rich will leave NJ simply because of its proximity to NYC.

Second....I would look into the state house. Christie added to the payroll in his tenure (not the little guy, the ones earning over 150,000 per year). That is only a drop in the bucket, but if there is "fat" there, there is "fat" in many government offices.

Third, I would eliminate the option to vote on school budgets like many other states. To help schools, and thus the budget, I would consolidate school districts. You then eliminate the highly paid personnel because administration has larger districts, shared services, bulk purchasing and on and on. We have over 600 school districts....too many! This would ease the taxpayer burden and the "bottom line" on Trenton.

I am sure there are thousands of ways to trim the fat without hurting the little guy...as a citizen who has a MA+30 in the arts/sciences and not in finance I am not an expert...just observing.

[Vic Ferrari]

Nothing original but I agree totally with your third. As far as the first two are "concerned", you are only coming up with $600 million for the first and $440,000 for the second. Keep thinking now...you balance your budget in your own house, don't you? Christie had to cut, what, ~10 billion for this year’s budget (including the layoffs of appx. 1,300 state employees)? Not an easy task is it? A lot of people have been reaping the benefits of a state that was "giving away the farm" for so many years. Consider yourself lucky that you don't have to make such difficult decisions.

BTW, hope you are enjoying your summer and your pay raise. It's all about the kids, right?


Link for the second figure
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/nj_governments_payroll_goes_up.html

[concernedcitizen]

Pay raise....1.5% pay CUT
Enjoying summer taking classes (at my expense)

Thank you!

[concernedcitizen]

PS...can't fix what was broken for so many years in only one year and with only ONE profession.

[concernedcitizen]

PPS Vic...I am only coming from ONE of many, many areas of budgeting in a state government. Homeland security, public transportation, police, fire, govenment offices beyond what I read in the paper, agriculture kickbacks, contracts with groups other than teachers, and on and on and on and on. I came up with a few ideas, one that can generate a ton of savings, and that is what elections are about. To choose those that have the expertise. So many on this site claim to have all the answers (or at least think they do) yet they are not out there on school boards, town councils or more. Yes, I balance my budget, but you can't balance a budget by only cutting back on your electricity, you have to look at more than one area. So far Christie is targeting one profession. I can't balance a home budget only looking at one line item.

Vic...what are your ideas or am I the only one that has to defend my postion because I chose a public sector job? My lifetime earnings (including benefits and pension) will never come close to many of those who reside in Stewartsville. I think it is time to put up or shut up for many of the people on this site. It is easy to demonize teachers, but that is not the only problem in our state. Let's get some real solutions. My 24K a year pension will not bust the state....and I don't earn enough year to year to save as much in a 401K or have a company match as most in Greenwich. Hell, on my salary I can't afford to own a home there!

I agree....there are problems in NJ and many other states as well. It is naive to think that one profession has "sucked the blood" of the taxpayers. Real education reform is not penalizing hard-working people who pay taxes just like you, but looking at where the real savings can be....consolidation. Several states do not have teacher's unions and they are in as much trouble and have even worse performance scores than NJ. I would research those facts and post a link like so many like to do here, but I have to learn an entire new curriculum because my school cut so many teachers that no one is teaching the same thing this year, so no time. It is true...look at student progress, look what states have unions and then demonize us. My 53K per year salary (after teaching 15 years) is enviable, I know!

[Vic Ferrari]

I'm not the one criticizing Christie. I think that he is doing exactly what he was elected to do (for the most part). If you haven't paid attention, Christie is targeting all sorts of groups. It is just that he started with the 800lb Gorilla. Start from the top and work your way down.

BTW, your 53k salary IS enviable to a lot of people. Especially when you add into that the Health Care! Don't pity yourself. Try the private sector.

[concernedcitizen]

Never asked for pity, just asked to be left alone. No one is attacking any other profession on this site and personally, as I have stated before, I feel I am doing a service that is needed in our country and community. I also feel that it is a very important job as I see more and more children neglected or shuffled around by their parents. Kids are babysat for by video games, dance lessons, sports, etc, and have less and less parenting and teaching done by their parents. I am not saying all parents, but when I have to teach 9 year olds how to tie their shoes because their parents are too lazy, busy, whatever, to do it, I realize how little one on one time kids get anymore.

I used to work in pharm sales and left by choice because teaching was something I wanted to do. So, been in the private sector. When I first graduated from college I did housing inspections for mortgage companies. I worked as an assistant manager of a ShopRite while going to college. Been there, done that. By the way, I took a huge pay cut to teach....not asking for pity....asking to be respected for the hard work I do each day. Must go....running off to my summer job. Yes, most of us work in the summer to help make ends meet.

Vic, if my 53K is enviable, would you (honestly) want to trade? FInd me a home to purchase in Stewartsville on my salary. I am grateful that I have a job so I am not whining, just want my profession left alone by the people who have never walked in my shoes. What do you do for a living?

[RINKERv230]

Originally Posted by concernedcitizen

Never asked for pity, just asked to be left alone. No one is attacking any other profession on this site and personally, as I have stated before, I feel I am doing a service that is needed in our country and community. I also feel that it is a very important job as I see more and more children neglected or shuffled around by their parents. Kids are babysat for by video games, dance lessons, sports, etc, and have less and less parenting and teaching done by their parents. I am not saying all parents, but when I have to teach 9 year olds how to tie their shoes because their parents are too lazy, busy, whatever, to do it, I realize how little one on one time kids get anymore.

I used to work in pharm sales and left by choice because teaching was something I wanted to do. So, been in the private sector. When I first graduated from college I did housing inspections for mortgage companies. I worked as an assistant manager of a ShopRite while going to college. Been there, done that. By the way, I took a huge pay cut to teach....not asking for pity....asking to be respected for the hard work I do each day. Must go....running off to my summer job. Yes, most of us work in the summer to help make ends meet.

Vic, if my 53K is enviable, would you (honestly) want to trade? FInd me a home to purchase in Stewartsville on my salary. I am grateful that I have a job so I am not whining, just want my profession left alone by the people who have never walked in my shoes. What do you do for a living?

I have to agree with you CC, or some reason it has become very fashionable to beat up on public employees. I personnally think the Gov started on the wrong foot with the teachers, EXCEPT raises, I have been frozen for 2 years, the only raise I have received was when I changed employers. I now make $78k but I am the Asst. Township Administrator, Grants Administrator, and Purchasing Agent. I probably put in and average 50-60 hour work week, but I'm happy I have a job. I put myself through college late in life just so I can advance and hold 4 State certifications.

The Gov could have found places to cut, (grants for seniors, grants for rec programs, grants for the arts, etc.,) but I am somewhat confident that when all is said and done Government operations will be will be more efficient. Especially if the toolkit gets passed. There had been a paradigm shift in what government is to provide it will be interesting how long it last when recreation programs get cut, bulk waste clean up is cut, it takes longer to get an answer when you call town hall. If the crying and gnashing of teeth over the elimination of courtesy busing is any indication it is going to be an interesting couple of years.

I know I'm not going to make some people happy here with these comments but everyone needs to make a choice as to what they want government to provide and if they want a particular service they had better come up with a revenue source for it. Gov. Patterson from NY made a very telling comment when he said that the same people crying for less takes are the same one wailing because they have to walk and extra 3 blocks to pick up the bus.

And the best quote I have heard was during the CPAC convention when Glenn Beck made the statement: " The difference be democrats and republican, Democrats tax and spend, Republicans just spend" I see this made true every day in my office. We have a republican committee and they want to provide this or that and we're constantly asking them where is the money coming from.

Ok, off my soap box.

[Vic Ferrari]

Concerned,
I do not think that the "bashing" on this board is directed at teachers. I have stated that we have had a very good experience with the educational quality in Greenwich. If you wish to be left alone, I think that distancing yourself from the NJEA would be beneficial. Not sure on how feasible that is since they have so much control over all of you. Most of the budget issues were focusing on the NJEA and the administrators for the most part. BTW, I know some retired adminstrators that live like kings. Amazing what we are all paying for.

I have been in the private sector for my entire career. That includes extensive travel, weeks away in a hotel, 12-20 hour days, 7 days a week. Never had anything close to tenure or the guarantee of medical. I have to save for my own retirement for which there is no guaranteed return. Plus I have to work quite a bit more than 180 days a year. I may complain at times but I feel fortunate to have a job.

If I get laid off anytime soon (which I have been through more than once) I would be glad to discuss a trade. Only thing is that I would want to keep my retirement fund (for all its losses) instead of your pension. The outlook for that is not looking too good at the moment. I have read that problems may start occurring anywhere between 2013 and 2018.

Best of luck to you though.