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Hernando Today

Teachers singled out

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Hernando Today

Published: October 29, 2009

I am the husband of a teacher in Hernando County. Hernando School Board members once again have shown their total and complete lack of respect for their teachers.

As everyone knows, the economy has made it tough on all families trying to make ends meet financially. With the holidays approaching, many sacrifices will be made and many families will do without — unless you are a school board member.

Hernando released the 2010 benefit premiums for insurance open enrollment outlining the board's contribution to the new health care package BC/BS has negotiated over 14 percent increase, which the school board approved. When Joe Vitalo, the Hernando County Teachers Association president, asked the board to put part of a $2.2 million surplus to help offset the increase in insurance to teachers, the school board, specifically John Sweeney, said "not a chance."

Now school board members have awarded themselves, as well as all the school administrators (secretaries, maintenance, cafeteria, etc.), a higher financial contribution of $248.25 per pay check towards insurance. While instructional employees (teachers) are given a contribution of $220.75 per pay check by the school board.

Have teachers been downgraded as "not as important" as the non-instructional employees? Although this 2010 benefit premium schedule has not yet been "board approved," I feel certain it will, since it is the board members who will benefit.

What other agency provides insurance to part-time employees? School board members have full-time jobs and are paid a substantial salary from Hernando County schools for being a part-time school board employee.

Now, according to this proposal, they are also entitled to more benefits than those full-time instructional employees. I feel that teachers are being discriminated against by being singled out in this proposal to receive fewer benefits than all other Hernando County school employees. If this schedule is approved by the board, my wife will be forced to drop coverage for myself as well as our 3-year-old son.

It seems to me that the teachers should be considered an integral part of the education of the students, since they are the ones teaching them. However, with the release of this proposal, it is evident that teachers in Hernando County are not as important as the non-instructional employees.

It seems the school board is focusing on ensuring they, along with their families, are taken care of while ignoring the heart of any school district: The teachers.

Mark Ferraro

Hudson

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