To the Editor,
Two separate items in your May 31 edition illustrate the propensity of public sector employees to spend other people’s money to further their own interests.
School board trustees wrestled with a massive budget deficit, just as they’ve done every year for as far back as I can remember.
If trustee Carol McNamee, former president of the Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association, has her way, an unexpected $130,000 from the provincial government will immediately be spent, rather than being ‘banked’ against future budget shortfalls (Trustees agree to reconsider two budget cuts), at which point she will again blame the government for under funding schools.
In the letters section, Karen Pierce, on behalf of teachers and education assistants, wants more money in order to designate more children as requiring specialized assistance (Student designation changes raise worries, Guest Comment), thus requiring the hiring of more of her union colleagues.
Both should understand that school taxes comprise the largest portion of our property tax bills and that property owners see their taxes raised each and every year.
They should also understand we see more than a little hypocrisy in teachers crying out, claiming that, “Quality, fully funded, public education is a right of every student”, while they themselves are gearing up to demand a wage increase by threatening to go on strike in September, just as the next school year begins.
Randy O’Donnell
Nanaimo