TAMARAC (CBS4) – As representatives from the Broward Teachers Union representatives and the county’s school district conduct contract negotiations inside the union’s Tamarac headquarters, hundreds of teachers and their supporters are scheduled to rally outside for a little RESPECT.
According to the union, the RESPECT street protest will focus on what they perceive as widespread district corruption and misspending of tax dollars.
Also at the rally, which begins at 4:30 p.m., the BTU will release joint report compile by the union and the School Board of Broward County finance committee which identifies $60 million in potential cuts from the district’s budget.
Union officials say they hope Superintendent Jim Notter implements the budget cutting options outlined in the report so the district can give employees a pay increase after two years of no raises, save student programs and “bring equity to cuts that up to now have primarily focused on laying off teachers, eliminating student programs and decreasing classroom instructional equipment and supplies,” according to a statement by the BTU.
“Superintendent Jim Notter no longer has any excuses for cutting the budget while doing everything he can to protect his administrative cronies,” said BTU President Pat Santeramo in the written statement.
Among the money-saving items listed in report are completely closing down the district during the Thanksgiving Holiday week and adjoining other holiday weekends in order save millions of tax dollars on utilities, transportation and cafeteria costs; reducing the summer schedules of most, but not all, assistant principals the same as teachers who already had their extended calendars reduced and enforcing a pay freeze for district employees who earn more $100 thousand.
Those attending the protest will also speak out about the legislative attack on the public school system and its crippling effects if certain proposals are passed in Tallahassee.
