Tonight's Smithtown School Board meeting, held at High School West, was packed. People made their way through a mass of school faculty protesting by wearing black outfits and the ubiquitous pins declaring, "Working Without a Contract." And the contract (in mediation) was the subject of much discussion.
The Board and Administration took care of the business of the district and then opened the floor to the public. Rich Forzano, president of the Smithtown Teachers Association was the first speaker. Mr Forzano claimed that over the past two contracts, the district gave nothing and asked too much of the union. Unfortunately, there was nothing detectably compromising in his address--no hands across the table. It was an inauspicious beginning that grew bizarre as Mr Forzano left the podium, the auditorium, and the building--followed by hundreds of the black-clad STA members. It was the low point of the evening. Even so, the room was almost half full after the exodus.
There followed 23 more speakers including recent Smithtown HS grads; moms of SCSD students; Decca volunteers; Industry Advisory Board members; a Junior Achievement Rep; seniors; business men and women of the district; and concerned citizens. Many plead for retaining the Business program which sounds fabulous--effective and one well-preparing its students for the future.
There were a couple passionate speakers who begged the Board to keep all programs, and do the right thing for the children. The major theme, however, was: dare to make a change, and do it now. The absent union members were asked to join the taxpayers and make a sacrifice. They wanted to know what the teachers were willing to do. They had left, so we were not able to have any dialogue.
One small group of teachers--not wearing the uniform of protest--actually stayed to the very end--they were the Business program teachers, who were warmly received. Their maturity and commitment to the students was appreciated.
Three speakers really stood out--a retired teacher and resident with the guts to challenge an out-of-control union, a businessman who offered to work on the Housing Advisory Committee and pointed out how simple it would be to balance the budget--with an STA contract with give-backs, and another businessman who reminded the Board and Administration to remember the definition of insanity and asked the Board and Admin to....
Take a look at Wisconsin! Stand up for us! Do something different!
Thanks to everyone who made this a productive evening--unfortunately--not the STA.
