Cary Parent Writes Letter to the Cary District 26 Board

Dear Cary District 26 Board,

My name is Nicole Campbell and I have a son going into 4^th grade at Deer Path. 

 I attended the CEC meeting last night and was moved by the community’s disapproval of your “last best offer”.  I am not writing you to place blame;  You’ve been dealt enough of that.  There’s enough finger pointing going around that would make anyone dizzy.  I’m writing to urge you to take more actions now – to give a little more – to meet the CEA willfully and happily in negotiations, for the kids and for our community.

We NEED you to put any blame and negative feelings aside to keep this terrible educational calamity from getting worse.  We NEED you to meet the CEA within a couple of days and work TOGETHER for a solution. 

You must have heard Chris Maher say last night that the teachers are willing to give more…but you and the administration need to give more too. 

I know it would hurt you financially, but all parties have given up something tangible (and intangible) in this mess…we need the administration to take pay cuts as well.  Not just freezes. 

Thank you for taking the freeze in past years, but we NEED you to take another step and take a pay cut equivalent to what you are asking the teachers to take.  It’s a symbolic gesture that shows you are all working TOGETHER toward making Cary 26 whole again. 

As you’ve said, this pay cut would not necessarily get the fund balance fully back in line on its own, but what I hear the teachers saying is that you need to give a little to get a little more from them, and it makes perfect sense.  

Whatever you think you’ve given in the past, and if you think it’s enough, you need to DIG DEEPER, because I really know in my heart that if we lose our teachers or if we lose school time because of a strike, our school system will be doomed (and thus the children who remain here too).

I am all for getting the cash flow in order;  I am ready to accept all the cuts and that we will not have specials back for years.   

Coming back from near financial ruin won’t be easy, but losing our teachers because of unwillingness to negotiate in good faith is not the answer.   

It’s actually possible to come back better than ever with most of our “Cary Family” intact, and I feel WE CAN if we can negotiate with care. 

 I am not on either side…I am on the side of our kids.  I am on the side of our wonderful little town that deserves a chance to overcome this…and we can.  But, we cannot lose our teachers over this.  If you do not take a pay cut in a heart-centered, symbolic gesture,  I really don’t see how Cary can overcome this. 

 Please do the right thing and meet with the CEA immediately with a new offer which includes administration pay cuts equivalent to the teachers’ pay cuts. 

Show some solidarity.  Show some heart.  Please – I am begging you.

Sincerely,

Nicole Campbell