Good evening I’m Dave
Palanzi a Business and Information Technology teacher at Stone Bridge High
School. I also serve at the Vice President of the Loudoun Education
Association.
I have been out speaking to
the Voters and the Tax payers of Loudoun about our schools--I have canvassed
door to door, organized members to speak to the public at farmers markets, and
presented to community leaders. They
overwhelmingly support Loudoun teachers and schools.
For far too long Loudoun has
been kicking the can down the road. Deferring
this and deferring that. Well I am here to tell you that NOW is the time for
you to stop [this].
You cannot Put Kids First
with addressing the economic needs of your employees.
This budget does not FULLY
address the needs of our employees. For far too long our salary and benefits
have been deferred as evidenced by our poor rankings in the region.
NOW is the time for you to
show that you value us, your employees, by increasing funding to compensation
which includes a cost of living increase without increasing our healthcare
costs. A step increase is not enough.
- Loudoun has not kept pace with inflation.
- You have eliminated tuition reimbursement.
- You have reduce healthcare benefits.
You have
eliminated summer school so employees lose the opportunity for addition income.
It all adds up! But not for
employees.
Many of your employees work
multiple jobs in order to have a decent standard of living. Just because they
have an honorable career that Puts Kids First should not mean that employees
sacrifice their economic future.
I implore you to remember
the needs of your employees as you rework this proposed budget. Our community wants LCPS employees to focus
on the children and not a second or third job.
Thank you.
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