Missed opportunity on education
Editor, Townsman:
In my 45 years living in Andover, and having attended our K-12 public schools, I honestly can't think of one teacher I ever had who would have taken the position that the union leadership team took last week when we asked them to partner with us to pursue "Race to the Top" funding. Race to the Top is a new federal grant designed to transform public education nationwide. To argue that we would never have qualified for these funds is throwing in the towel without even trying.¬ This¬ is not the attitude that was instilled in me when I was a student in our schools.¬
As the graphs shows, Andover taxpayers, Superintendent Claudia Bach, and the School Committee have strongly supported our teachers, despite challenging economic times and big reductions in property values. Over the past six years, teaching salary budgets have increased 34 percent. During this same six-year period, K-12 student population has increased just 3.8 percent and property values have fallen 15 to 20 percent. The School Committee also invested $1.65 million in teacher professional development during this time (analysis based on published town data).
Given the strong financial support Andover has shown our teachers, it's disheartening that the teachers union chose not to partner with us. In Massachusetts, 256 school districts and charter schools have signed on, representing 72 percent of K-12 students statewide.
Our students deserve better. We all have a responsibility to do what's best for our children, to give¬ our school system a chance to innovate and be creative, to try to win a portion of the $125 million "Race to the Top" funds that Andover would have qualified for.¬ We could have partnered with¬ surrounding towns and proposed exciting, game-changing initiatives that would¬ have deeply benefited our communities and teachers union.¬ What a missed opportunity.
David Birnbach
86 Osgood St.
School Committee member
