Vernon, CT
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I’m writing to inform the public of the professionalism and team spirit recently displayed by the unions associated with the Vernon Board of Education. You don’t always hear this being said about organized labor but I wanted to acknowledge it publicly.
The board approached all of our unions to initiate informal discussions to enlist their help in solving the fiscal problems we were facing. Prior to that, the administrators union and the superintendent, assistant superintendent, and business manager approached us to offer to come to the table to help us deal with the reductions the board needed to make to our budget.
It was decided by the budget steering committee that we should approach all of the unions and ask for one furlough day in the 2009-10 school year for a savings of $150,000. The secretaries, custodians, nurses, librarians, cafeteria workers, and supervisors all quickly offered up the day to help us keep teachers in the classroom and not eliminate or further reduce any of the programs we offer for our students. After further discussions, the teachers also agreed to the furlough day.
I want to publicly thank the union leadership and members for stepping forward to help solve the difficult task we faced as a Board of Education during a very trying budget process. I don’t think people realize how hard it is for all of us to have to make reductions when we have the best interests of our children at heart.
Thank all of you for what you do for the children of Vernon. Each one of you touches their lives in your own special way.
Cathy Rebai
Vernon
Tags: Cathy Rebai, CT, Teachers Union, Vernon, Vernon Board of Education
