I attended the Town Meeting recently, hoping to learn some more about why we are being asked to support an override for teacher’s pay scale. First, I want to acknowledge the obvious: We have great schools, at a cost lower than most in Massachusetts! This keeps the price of housing high, protecting our investments in our homes. Great job to all involved!
However, I was shocked to learn at Town Meeting that there were only 10 teachers over three years who left the school system due to pay issues (less than 1 percent annual attrition!) AND the actual increase over time is lots larger than what is shown (increases by 2.5 percent each year forever), AND this is being pushed by the administration, not through collective bargaining where it should be resolved (I think Mr. Galvin, a candidate for selectman, explained this very concisely and clearly), AND the study this request is based on appears flawed and constructed as a tool to support the increase.
In other words, it is hard to see a problem here, much less one that needs to be solved by an override.
People will not automatically go for higher compensation if other factors are more pleasing to them. Again, good job Westford for an organization that can keep people from leaving for a few bucks more.
As a result, I had to vote against this override. It is easy to get swayed by emotional appeals about how good the teachers are to your kids, how hard they work, etc. But, if you decide to vote rationally and logically, you will reject this.
There was an old comedy routine about explaining tonsillitis to a child:Â “tonsils are there to protect you from germs, like an army protecting its country. However, your tonsils have not only lost, but they have joined the other side!” Apparently, the administration and school committee have gone over to the other side in this case, looking like extensions to the teacher’s union, not representatives of the taxpayers.
By the way, does anyone think that the other town employees won’t try this same tactic if it is successful?
Our emotions always drive us to help teachers as much as possible. But, this override should not be on the ballot, is aimed at fixing an imaginary problem, sets a horrible precedent, and will be with us forever, increasing annually. Vote no.
— Dan Doherty, Bixby Lane
