So, if I understand this correctly, the teacher was expressing bewilderment at the money that was available FOR THE CHILDREN in a "But but but if Janey gets a lollypop, I want a lollypop,too! Where's my lollypop?!" fashion?

No, it appeared to me that the parent was pointing out that the money in the bond is for the new schools and the construction and moving costs. It has nothing to do with the regular school budget.

I think we may be talking about different moments: the same woman had earlier questioned whether money set aside for moving had actually been spent toward that end. (The stated and implied undertext was that the teachers didn't see a benefit from the money.)

I believe that the grandparent was only concerned with ONE room in the old Ranger building. The whole school is not unsafe or too loud, it is one room in the basement next to the cafeteria. I was wondering why administration hasn't offered to move this child to another classroom, for health reasons.(maybe they have, I don't know) I think that the school committee has gone out of their way to be proactive in this situation. It astounds me that the teachers are surprised at how expensive a "pod" is. I guess they aren't aware of how expensive health care is either.

Coming from a reliable source I learned tonight that the money set aside for moving was used to move curriculum materials and furniture(aka "taxpayers' purchases"). Any personal items were moved at the teacher's expense. Makes sense to me - as a taxpayer I would not want to be responsible for any losses due to moving mishaps.

"currently on work to rule seeking to squeeze every penny from the town."

I wonder how many Tiverton teachers really want to be on work to rule. I wonder how many would prefer to sign on to Tiverton's offer and return fully to their students.

Judging from the crowd at last night's meeting, most Tiverton teachers appear to be OK with the work to rule. I would hope that if they weren't, they would be adult enough to speak up to other union members. I just read the story in tonight's Newport Daily News about the union picketing the school committee president's place of work. It scares the hell out of me to think that these people are with my children all day. Their tactics are more bullying than professional. I have lost ALL respect for these people.

"about the union picketing the school committee president's place of work"

Nice.

Members of most other professions must make the case -listing of accomplishments, etc. - every time s/he requests an increase in compensation. You'll notice that the unions offer no such justification for their demands.

How if we charted the Tiverton school budget for the last twenty years together with Tiverton student achievement? My guess is that, as with South Kingstown, there would be little or no correlation.

The Tiverton School Committee and the Town Council are doing the right thing. Someone has to stand up "for the chi-i-i-h-h-ldren".

... but I would still distinguish between the union and teachers. Unless literally 51% of the Tiverton teaching staff was at the meeting, the sentiment expressed there is not shared by all teachers in the town. The fiscal situation of the town and the state as well as abatement of respect for the teaching profession (Donna is only one of many to say so) brought about by the actions of the union will not have escaped the attention of a lot of teachers.

>>but I would still distinguish between the union and teachers. Unless literally 51% of the Tiverton teaching staff was at the meeting

Union organizers tell their "targets" (their term, not mine) things such as "you are the union" and "unions are democratic" and "unions give you a voice."

Well if this is true then the actions of the union - including Mr. Crowley - reflects the wishes of the majority of teachers.

Of course the assertions of the union organizers aren't true (it's a sales pitch). Nevertheless, if actions of Crowley/NEA don't reflect the will of the majority of the teachers, then they should speak out.

If they are afraid to speak out of a concern over "union discipline" (e.g., fines for disloyalty to the union) and/or retribution by union officials and union Kool-Aid coworkers - which may not be an unjustified fear - then they should start a move to decertify the union and go union-free.

If they won't speak out and/or seek to decertify, then it's fair for us to paint them all as Crowley Mini-Mes.

In regards to the moving expenses, the money was not spent on the move. Supplies were not provided. No boxes, no tape, no time. Boxes were thrown into the back of pick-up trucks and hauled off to the schools. Taxpayers' books and supplies were packed into boxes from the cafeteria. So books that cost hundreds of dollars were packed into chicken nugget and pizza dough boxes! So, no the money was not spent on moving expenses.