Falling on Deaf Ears

 Cara Tortorice is a senior at Whitman High School.

 “Much too little and a little too late,” declares Superintendent Thomas Shea, of the $1.2 million giveback from the South Huntington School District teachers union. The giveback would save the nine-period day at the high school, along with the jobs of the teachers that go with it.

The nine-period day allows high school students to take more APs, potentially eight more electives, and to get remediation for Regents exams--in short, it is important to us. Shea views the generous proposal as a “thinly veiled attempt to save union jobs at taxpayer expense.”

The giveback from the teachers is not an expense to anyone but themselves. It is a donation, and a generous one at that, to the school district to save what means the most to them, what means the most to all of us. The board and the cabinet have asked us numerous times to speak on behalf of what we care about; I along with many other students and parents have spoken on behalf of the nine-period day, yet it is the very thing they take away.

How the board and the cabinet can be so quick to snatch away something that is so valuable an entire school district’s teachers are willing to put forward $1.2 million without taking pause to say “wait a minute, maybe we’ve got something here,” is incredibly disappointing.

It wasn’t just the high school teachers who voted yes to save the high school teachers’ jobs. It was approximately 78% of the entire district’s teachers who voted yes. That includes elementary schools, intermediate schools, the sixth grade center, the middle school, and the high school. Yes the offer came with conditions. The teachers required that their donations be used to restore the nine-period day and the teachers that go with it. Also that they would be relieved of eight professional development sessions and two conference days at the high school, and at the elementary schools be relieved of weekly professional development sessions and two conference days.  Eliminating the professional development sessions may also save the district some money because many times paid trainers are brought in to make their presentation.

Shea believed this offer from the teachers was too little, yet the $1.2 million was the number he had given to the teachers’ union president Dennis Callahan. The $1.2 million was also the number on all our handouts that appeared in print and was distributed at the March 30 Board of Ed. meeting (I have attended every budget work session held by the board). Shea also said it was a little too late. The teachers were given the information on March 30, they had a meeting on March 31, they voted on April 6, and their offer was given to Shea April 7.  A little too late? I think not.

Shea and the board had nearly a week to address the teachers’ union regarding the $1.2 million giveback and the conditions that came with it, but he chose not to discuss the gift. The board and the cabinet have assured us that our thoughts and words are not falling on deaf ears, yet it seems that way because they are taking away the very item we as a collective, administrators, students, teachers, parents, have fought so hard to keep. Can you hear us now, Dr. Shea? Because I don’t think you’re listening.