Teachers union or education problem?

On Sept. 14, I attended a community forum that the Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 held on its finances. The presentation the district made at this forum, of course, showed that an operating tax increase was necessary.

Most of the alternatives were described as “program cuts.” The district had previously published a number of reports on its Internet site, some of which were put together by an outside consulting group, to support a tax increase.

However, the district’s reports and presentations have not addressed the real problem. At the meeting I pointed out that as complex as the district’s financial situation is, the underlying problem is actually simple. The district has experienced a very large decline in enrollment in recent years. The amount of the decrease depends on the starting point, but articles in the local papers refer to a 33 percent decline in enrollment. The problem is that the number of teachers has not experienced a similar decline.

Since labor is about three quarters of the district’s expenses, I would suggest that the following items be addressed: 1) the actual number of regular teachers, 2) teachers’ salaries, 3) teacher health and retirement contribution levels and 4) which teachers would be cut if necessary (changing the current last in, first out process).

Another way to approach it is to ask if we have an “education” problem or a teachers union problem. I have been a district resident for 35 years and my three daughters (graduating in ‘95, ‘97 and ‘99) did very well with the apparently much higher classroom sizes that the district had before the enrollment declines started. Another forum is scheduled for Oct. 6. I suggest that taxpayers attend this meeting and express their views.

William Malloy

Glen Ellyn