April 3, 2007
Bruce Langlan (blanglan@comcast.net) sent to me a copy of the 'Letter to Editor" that he forwarded to the Town Observer regarding recent errors and inaccuracies. It is left to be seen if this letter is ever published.
Letter to the Editor
After reading Opinion/Editorial: Bridgewater Coming to Terms I called Mr. Sunshine and had a conversation with him. My point in calling was that some of the information contained in the article is not factual. Mr. Sunshine told me the point of his opinion/editorial piece was to point out that Bridgewater was in financial trouble and the people of Bridgewater can’t afford more taxes. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion but in large measure opinion is shaped by what people perceive are the facts. I agree with Mr. Sunshine that Bridgewater is in financial trouble but believe that there are solutions. The solutions will require the town leadership to step up and lead, make hard decisions, and point the way. With that being said, let’s put the facts on the table.
The continuing myth that Bridgewater-Raynham teachers are the highest paid in the state is not true, and has never been so. The Department of Education website has posted state salary figures by town for teachers starting in 1997. Bridgewater-Raynham’s salary ranking starting in 1997 were: 9th, 8th, 25th, 26th, 61st, 1st, 33rd, 25th, 11th, and in 2006 32nd. In 2002 the DOE lists B-R as 1st in the state. A closer look at the salary figures showed a jump of $10,700 in the average from 2001 to 2002, which was not possible. I went to the Superintendent’s office to check this out. When figures were reported to the DOE, total teachers salary was divided by 328.5 FTE (full time equlivants) rather then 366.8 FTE’s which was the correct number of teachers. The correction was filed with DOE, however their website was never corrected. The correct ranking for Bridgewater-Raynham is 27th for 2002.
The teachers are now negotiating a new contract. The past contract called for raises of 0-3-3 percent which averages out to 2 percent a year. They did not get a 4 percent raise and no one knows what the next contract will call for as all contract negotiations are conducted behind closed doors and not in the public venue. That is the nature of public sector negotiations. Teacher’s salaries account for 41 percent of the budget this year ($23,023,972) while all salaries account for 54 percent of the budget ($30,676,260).
Recent contract negotiations with the custodians, secretarial, cafeteria workers and educational assistants the HMO health insurance contribution was changed (from the current 88 percent school contribution, 12 percent employee contribution to a 80 – 20 percent split) for new employees starting January 1, 2006. This step in the right direction is one that should be embraced by both the teacher’s union and town unions in the immediate future. It was suggested that school employees don’t have a choice in health insurance plans and they only have the most expensive plan available. Not true, they do have choices when it comes to picking health insurance. Teachers can choose between various Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans like BC/BS HMO Blue and BC/BS Blue Choice and Harvard Pilgrim. Currently Harvard Pilgrim is more expensive then the BC/BS HMO plans offered.
Yes, we have committed to 126 million in building and renovations over the last five years. Of this amount Bridgewater’s is roughly $28 million. The state has picked up the lions share of the cost. The citizens voted for the renovations and building program due to the fact that the Williams school was falling apart and it was more cost effective to renovate half of the school and rebuild the other half. The high school was overcrowded, in need of renovations, and facing the loss of accreditation. The elementary school was too small when it opened and a plan was put in place to alleviate the problems by building a new high school, making the old high school into the middle school, and having the Williams Middle School house the upper elementary grades while the current elementary will houses pre-school, kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. State reimbursement has ranged from a low of 66.31 percent to 73 percent depending on the project.
Former Superintendent Gerhart and current Superintendent McIntyre and others put this building and renovation plan in place. The popular mantra is that Bridgewater is left holding the bag while school leadership skipped out of town. I never knew that reaching retirement age and maximum benefits was something that an individual shouldn’t look forward to. I also didn’t know that being able to better one’s self professionally (Dr. Bemis moving from B-R as assistant superintendent to Littleton to become the superintendent) is to be looked down on. In discussing personnel it should be noted that Mrs. Berolini doesn’t work for the school district. Even if she did what is the conflict of interest with Mr. Berolini being on the Advisory Board? I am sure if there was such a conflict the State Ethics Commission would rule as such if a complaint were filed.
The town or schools cannot control many of the factors, which drive up cost. State mandated programs for the schools, which don’t come along with the necessary funding are issues that have to be addressed by the legislature. Special Education transportation and tuition along with health insurance and retirement charges account for $3,008,476 of the requested $4,516,084 increase in the school budget. District administrators have continued to work at trying to stem the raising costs (affecting communities nation wide) by such practices as: energy conservation programs, collaborative purchasing, having one of the best 5 year bus contracts in the area, and various cost sharing programs.
The schools are in a tough position as is the town. The citizens of Bridgewater must make a decision as to how the town solves its fiscal problems. It is not a town vs. school problem as some of the leadership in town paints the picture. I don’t believe that a tax increase is something to be passed frivolously nor do I believe that the town has hit its limit for taxpayer capacity. The town has for the last few years put off dealing with its fiscal problems and now it has reached the limit of cutting. Let's get a plan on the table and debate the issues. Everyone will form their own opinion but let the debate be based on a common and correct set of facts. If you think some facts in this letter are erroneous please check for yourself at the central office of the school district like I did.
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