Op-Ed: Teachers Need Suitable Health Insurance

The following op-ed was submitted by Mona Smith of 8 Salem Ave., Woburn:

I would like to thank the teachers I had from the Golden School, Kennedy Jr. High and Woburn High School. The education I received from them is the reason I stayed in Woburn and raised my children here.

I would also like to thank the first-rate teachers from the Goodyear School, Kennedy Middle School and Woburn High School for the wonderful education and attention both of my children received in their classes. I appreciate all the hard work that is asked of our teachers, especially with the ever-changing mandates that the state requires.

I realize that any contract negotiation is difficult and compromises must be made by both sides. I am troubled, however, by the stand the mayor has taken that no negotiation will happen without decreasing healthcare. It seems to me that statement defies any real compromise. I am further troubled because, as I understand it, police, fire, and teachers have the same insurance. How can we ask people who put their lives on the line to accept an inferior health care plan?

Wouldn’t we want our first responders to have enough insurance to take care of them? I am all for fiscal responsibility, but not at the cost of lawsuits or disability claims that I am sure in the end would be more costly. I also would like our police dept., fire dept and our teachers to know that what they do is appreciated by this community so that we can keep them here, rather than lose them to a community that does care. As a longtime Woburnite, I do not mind my taxes paying for decent health care coverage for our city employees, and I am sure I am not alone. If you have had a good teacher, ever been helped by the police department or fire department, please drop a note to let them know what they do matters.

Hopefully there can be more open minded negotiations going forward.

Thank You,

Mona Smith

8 Salem Ave.

Woburn, MA, 01801