WARWICK

Bad management hurts school workers

Because of the lack of foresight on the part of the Warwick City Council to set aside funds for the teachers contract three years ago and the complete mismanagement of the School Department’s budget by the Warwick School Committee, our once proud school system is now in shambles. Because of the School Committee’s incompetence and irresponsibility our children, their schools and many hard-working, dedicated School Department employees, custodians, teachers and transportation personnel, etc., are paying dearly.

I have attended many School Committee meetings this past year. At these meetings we were encouraged to make suggestions as to how we could help balance the budget. There were numerous suggestions offered by both the Warwick Independent School Employees union (WISE) and teachers on how to significantly save money and jobs. Everyone was willing to compromise to help save jobs — ideas such as furloughs; 52-week people going to 42 weeks; cutting work weeks from 40 hours to 35 hours. This would be a tremendous savings and a chance for people to keep their jobs. The School Committee rejected all the suggestions that were made.

At a School Committee meeting on Monday, May 5 the chairman of the School Committee, Mr. Christopher Friel, admitted that it signed the teachers contract knowing full well that there were no funds to pay for it. When Mr. Friel was asked why, his reply was, “We took a gamble.” At that point, the audience was stunned. I can only describe it as the “deer in the headlights look” on everyone’s faces. It makes you wonder what else they have taken a “gamble” on.

Several teachers’ positions have eliminated, but the majority of the eliminations are W I S E employees. There is definitely a pattern here.

One administrator’s yearly salary equals three custodial yearly incomes. Most of us are just above poverty level now and literally live from paycheck to paycheck. Because of these eliminations we could lose our homes and our ability to take care of our families.

Parents and residents of Warwick, you need to know what is happening to our school system and demand accountability before it is too late.

Linda M. Rogers

Custodian,

Toll Gate High School

Warwick

CRANSTON

No new taxes? Wait ’til after the ’08 election

[Democratic City Chairman] Michael J. Sepe, in his May 6 letter “City must live within resources,” reminds me of the old “good cop, bad cop” routine. Good cop being Michael Sepe holding the line on taxes and Mr. [Steven] Bloom, bad cop, with his 3 percent increase in the property tax.

It’s all an act. Our present politicians are only for no tax increase because of the November elections. We’re suckers if we fall for that again. After the elections and all the usual suspects are still in office, Mr. Bloom will get his 3 percent-plus increase. You don’t think the unions are going to give us a break, do you? Just look at the last firefighters contract.

The only way to stop our politicians from giving away the store to unions, for votes, is for contracts to be negotiated and signed just prior to the elections.

John Melone

Cranston

EAST GREENWICH

Nominees wanted for Wall of Honor

The inaugural Wall of Honor at East Greenwich High School was a big success. Over 100 people attended to hear the plaudits of speakers and the acceptances of the five original honorees.

To ensure that the event continues to be successful, we need the help of the reading public.

The Wall of Honor Committee is looking for more nominees, in particular women and graduates of the former East Greenwich Academy (1900s-1940) who have gone on to success in life, and would serve as an inspiration to East Greenwich High School students.

We ask those people who head class reunion committees to submit names of their successful classmates.

On the board for consideration are a Pulitzer Prize winner, a Broadway dancer, a successful businessman who appears on national TV every year, the CEO of a large New York company and a host of other very successful people, all East Greenwich High School graduates.

Thank you in advance for your help. Feel free to call me, or stop me on the street, to let me know if you have someone to nominate.

Bruce R. Mastracchio

Chairman, Nominating Committee

Items for this column may be e-mailed to wbnews@projo.com, faxed to (401) 277-7227, or mailed to The Providence Journal, West Bay Bureau, 75 Fountain St., 3rd floor, Providence, R.I. 02902. You can reach us at (401) 277-7090. All letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number.