New contracts must reflect economy

I read with interest the comments made by School District 220 Superintendent Leonard in a February article in the Daily Herald. I believe he properly characterized the severity of the economy and the impact it has on "business and government bodies." I urge the board to make the difficult decisions ahead of them to control spending.

There are a few observations that I believe are worthy of note: Increases in pay that occurred by applying the contract salary schedules resulted in enormous salary growth over the past three years. Increases range from 6 percent to almost 10 percent each year.

Raises given for 2008-09 year were clearly a windfall at levels of 8 percent or 9 percent, while employees elsewhere are receiving little or no increase or are losing their job. I trust that the District 220 school board and the teachers union will consider the aforementioned as a new teachers' contract is negotiated. Perhaps teacher pay should be frozen or reduced in the first and second years of the contract.

Also consider that as corporate America eliminates pension plan benefits, teachers retire with a healthy pension plan and enjoy a 3 percent cost of living adjustment annually.

Companies are eliminating medical coverage for retirees when they become Medicare eligible. Teachers continue to receive medical benefits during retirement.

The writer acknowledges there was a time when teacher pay and benefits were subordinate to what was paid in corporate America. That difference has disappeared over the past decade. Much has changed and will continue to change and the board and the union are urged to recognize that as a new contract is negotiated.

David W. Koester

Barrington