Here's What Can Happen When Educators Work with the Community

Last night the Upper St. Clair Teachers Union (in a Pittsburgh suburb) approved a new contract. Now this shouldn’t be breaking news.  It is Breaking News because they ratified a new contract even though their existing contract did not expire for two years.  And, what is more impressive, they did this because of the budget crisis facing their district.  The concessions that the union gave will save the district $3.7 million over two years.  This is not to say that they also didn’t get concessions from the district.  It seems both sides gave and both sides got. If you want to read the details go to

 These teachers and administrators stepped up and became part of the solution because they consider themselves part of the community in which they live and work. Their goal being to educate their children, they displayed what is meant by a moral imperative: doing the right thing even if it is hard.

 Many Long Island teachers and administrators don’t seem to get this.  To those who say that Upper St Clair was able to do this because the cost of living there isn’t as high as on Long island I say this:  The main reason that the cost of living is so high here is taxes. And, again, as I’ve said before, 70 percent of property taxes is school taxes and 70 percent of school taxes goes toward salaries and benefits.

 We all need to work together to make Long Island communities places where our children can live and work and thrive.