Dear Editor:

So let me get this straight!  According to an article in The Times Record last Friday, January 25, the Wiscasset School Committee and the superintendent of schools filed a prohibited practice complaint with the Maine Labor Relations Board against the Wiscasset teachers AND took the teachers to court to file an "emergency injunction" to stop the teachers from engaging in an alleged illegal job action - all because  the teachers were going to meet to discuss the possibility of a system-wide intent to "work to the contract?" 

I understand that the superintendent and school board spent time and money for two lawyers, their own plus a trial lawyer,  plus substitutes to cover classes for the four teachers who were summoned to court on Friday, January 25 to deal with the superintendent's  effort  to do what? To prevent the teachers from working under the terms of their contract?  

I do understand that there were one or two teachers who, perhaps ill-advisedly, were suggesting that everyone stop running various clubs and organizations, etc., but I spoke with several teachers from Wiscasset who made it very clear that they understood that IF they were receiving compensation for running a club or sports team or whatever, then their legal obligation was to continue doing so, OR to resign from that position.  But NONE of these actions had yet even occurred. 

These suggestions were merely that - suggestions - which were up for discussion as a result of the teachers' frustration with the refusal of the school committee to enter back into negotiations.   

None of it had actually been discussed by the teachers yet in a way that would allow them to exchange ideas, correct misunderstandings and/or vote upon a course of action. 

So the superintendent and the committee jumped the gun to prevent something that they were afraid "might happen" rather than addressing what actually IS!  

And thus, as far as I am concerned, they further damaged future attempts to settle the contract without the hurt and rancor left behind in the aftermath of nasty negotiations.

As far as any future possible action on the part of the teachers to "work to contract," correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't that mean that they would be doing exactly what is required of them legally?  Since when does an employer take an employee to court for doing what their contract requires them to do? 

Oh, but wait a minute.  I get it!!  The school committee has finally realized that their teachers have actually been doing a whole lot MORE for the students and subsequently the parents of these students and the community-at-large than what is legally and contractually required of them.    

And now that the school committee and superintendent realize that those "extras," done for no additional compensation, are actually a very important and vital part of the students' experiences and  successes, they are incredulous that the teachers might have some objections to continue providing services that are not required by contract.  

Who could possibly expect that the teachers should and will continue to go above and beyond the call of duty while the school committee continues to drag its heels on settling a contract?  Believe me when I say that it is not only the students who are hurting because of this continued "stand-off," but it is also the teachers. They KNOW what it takes to provide the best possible learning environment for their kids, including the extra hours of preparation, of care and concern, of being involved in their students' lives well beyond just the classroom or the school day. 

They would like nothing better than to get back to the joy and satisfaction of spending each day helping "their kids" reach their full potential in an environment where EVERY-ONE is working toward that same goal.

Lois Kwantz

Wiscasset

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the Westport Island Human Resource Committee, we would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all of the people who contributed in response to our our fundraising newsletter.

The response was incredible; we raised over $6,000 in donations as well as donations of gift certificates and other offers of help for families during the holiday. As you know, this is a very hard year for many, with high fuel costs, low temperatures, and consequently higher costs of living in general.

Because of your generosity, we were able to contribute gift certificates, Christmas presents, groceries, and heating oil to those who needed it here in Westport, and it will help us to continue to help those in need over the rest of the winter. We realize that everyone is feeling the effects of the hard winter, and that it makes it all the more meaningful for people to think of others when they themselves might not have a lot to spare. So thank you again, and we wish everyone a safe and happy 2008.

If you would like more information on the HRC, or know someone who could use our help, please feel free to contact one of our members.

Sincerely,

Marcia Richardson

Richard and Mickey Drummey

Sarah Rhinelander

Michael Cromwell

Cyndy Lewis

Kim and Bub Greenleaf

Linda Davis

Judy Richardson

Carol Spiegel

Dear Editor:

Whenever government involves itself in our free market system, disaster happens. Today, our public education system continues to require more of our tax money while producing declining academic results and increasing social problems. The government's only solution is to throw more of our tax money at the system.

Our free market provided nearly all educational needs from colonial days until well into the 19th century. Home schooling, one-room schools, and private schools flourished without the benefit of government subsidies or directives. The products of this free-market approach somehow managed to transform a supposedly backward wilderness nation into the envy of the world.

Today, many Americans mistakenly believe that the public school system is an integral part of our form of government. They cannot conceive of its elimination. What they fail to recognize is that separation of school and state is not a revolutionary development in our history. It is a welcome return to our philosophical and cultural roots.

Go to www.thenewamerican.com for details. Search: schools.

The only viable solution is to separate school and state and return to a tried and proven free market in education. Then we would have many school choices, pay no school taxes, and pay only for the education of our own children. Charity would provide for the poor.

Robert W. Van de Walle

Granada Hills, Calif.

Via e-mail

Dear Editor:

I'm writing in response to the letters written in last week's paper by Wiscasset Middle School teacher, Brion Controvillas, and a Wiscasset School teacher who wrote an anonymous letter to "Tell it to George."

I find it very disturbing that teachers, and others, continue to intentionally mislead the students and parents of Wiscasset schools, not to mention the general public. Let's not forget that even with the budget cuts, the Wiscasset's school budget still exceeds E.P.S. (Essential Programs and Services) by more than $1.5 million (almost $2 million when you add in the carry forward from the previous year's budget, grants, private funds, etc.)

Portraying ANY problems within the Wiscasset school system as having been caused by budget cuts is extremely selfish and intentional misi n formation at its best.

In his letter, Mr. Controvillas states, "The fact the school budget was cut, which resulted in teacher layoffs, which in turn decreased the number of programs available, would be a more likely cause of students opting for other school systems over Wiscasset." And, "The fact that foreign language is now NOT offered until ninth grade is but one example."

This year's budget cuts didn't happen until June. How could any student/parent possibly know what programs were going to be cut, still have time to consider and compare alternative schools, and figure out a way to make it happen - especially in the lower grades, where foreign language was cut. That's definitely not the reason for losing MOST of the students we've lost.  

Coincidently, I noticed that Mr. Controvillas signed his letter, "Special Education Teacher, Wiscasset Middle School." He left out the part about, "Wiscasset Teachers Union Representative." Maybe because he didn't want a specific group of people, (taxpayers) to know he may have a hidden agenda.

In an anonymous "Letter to George," another teacher claims that if your opinion is contrary to hers, you're a "Wiscasset Whiner." She states in the same letter that "Wiscasset has hit an all time low" and she didn't give a "rat's ass" about anyone but herself (nice). Can you imagine how this teacher might treat our students   who may not share her opinion?

She refers to the school budget cuts as "devaluation of education." That's like saying parents who drive their kids to school in a new Volvo wagon love their children more than those who drive an old Ford pick-up truck. It's absurd.

At nearly $2 million above E.P.S., other schools wish  they had our budget problems. There are no schools around that operate with a budget nearly as cushy as Wiscasset's. Why do you think the surrounding towns didn't want to consolidate with us? Because they didn't want to share the cost of our schools.

Most students opting to leave Wiscasset Schools are doing so to attend schools operating on much tighter budgets. I'm getting tired of explaining to my kids that there is plenty of money in the school budget, but whoever is in charge of that money, doesn't want to spend it on the kids.

I'm also getting tired of the fact that SOME of these Wiscasset school teachers don't appreciate how good they've got it. Maybe they should get together and buy whatever school Wiscasset decides to close, and open up their own private  school. They could call it "North Wiscasset Academy."

Maine Yankee is gone. Now it's just us working stiffs footing the bill for the public education of our kids. Until our school leaders can find a way to make our schools as effective, happy, and cost efficient, as the schools surrounding us, we will continue to lose students. It's that simple.

Sincerely,

Tony True

Father of three Wiscasset students

Wiscasset Budget Committee

Wiscasset School Committee

Please note that my views and opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the School Board, Budget Committee, or members of either committee. But I wish they did.

Dear Editor:

We know that there is something dreadfully wrong between the Wiscasset school committee and the Wiscasset teachers, but the issues are still unclear to many residents of Wiscasset. What follows is a summary of the negotiation timeline in an effort to better inform the community.

Teacher contracts in this district run on three year cycles. In September of 2005, the teacher union contacted the school committee to begin contract talks. Those talks began six months later.

Within a month talks were going sour. In August 2006 the teacher contract expired and in November 2006 mediation began. While the school committee and teacher union were able to agree on most issues, the sticking points were salaries and benefits.

From April 2006 through November 2007, a process known as Fact Finding occurred. Fact Finding brings together an independent three member panel of labor negotiation experts appointed by the Maine Labor Relations Committee. Each side selects one negotiator to represent their interests while a third impartial member is assigned by the state. After meeting and listening to both sides in July, the panel wrote and released their report in November. Not surprisingly, the school committee selected appointee sided with the committee, while the teacher union selected appointee sided with the teachers. The third party determines the majority findings.

The panel issued the following recommendations:

• Allowing teachers a 25 minute duty free lunch

• Increasing the hourly rate for curriculum work during vacation periods from $18 to $23 per hour. The work is voluntary and controlled by the Superintendent.

• Raising the salary scale by four percent for each year of the contract. (The employer representative dissented on this issue as previously made public by the school committee.)

• Providing 100 percent health coverage for single employees and 94 percent, 93 percent and 92 percent of the prior year's premium for dependent health coverage in successive years of the contract cycle.

In regards to salaries, the report states that "The Panel recognizes that the decommissioning of Maine Yankee has significantly impacted the tax base in Wiscasset and placed more of the tax burden on the residential property owner. This does have a bearing on the community's perception of what it can afford. The message the School Committee has heard from the voters is to hold salaries down and the Committee's proposal understandably reflects that sentiment. While the Panel Majority respects the desire on the part of Wiscasset taxpayers to hold down costs, it is persuaded that when other objective considerations discussed more fully below are given appropriate weight, that teacher salaries warrant more than the minimum increase proposed by the Committee."

"The Panel is unanimous that it is appropriate to consider the EPS salary matrix as one of the factors bearing on salary levels, but that it should not necessarily be the controlling factor. Other relevant considerations include what other teachers in proximity to Wiscasset are receiving, what comparable professionals in the private sector are receiving, cost of living factors and overall compensation, including health insurance."

In reference to health insurance, the panel's recommendation "is in line with health insurance benefits in comparable units" (districts). "As noted earlier in this report, health insurance should not be looked at in isolation but, rather, in conjunction with salaries, so that increases in health insurance costs to the employee do not eat up the increase in salary."

The teachers accept the panel findings. Teachers are ready to settle the contract and end this distraction from our main purpose… the education of children in Wiscasset. Teachers in Maine can not strike. The only recourse, then, is to work to our contract, i.e. to do everything we are contracted to do, and nothing more. The nature of a teacher is to go well beyond what is expected of him/her. Unfortunately, this then becomes the "expected,"

Tragically, the whole struggle over settling a contract took a woeful turn when Superintendent Jay McIntire and the Wiscasset School Committee elected to file an emergency restraining order and injunction against the teachers of this district last week for actions perceived to be "harmful to our students." The harm is in not having an educational leader in this community!

Shari Templeton

Physics teacher

Wiscasset High School

Residence Newcastle