EDITOR: In response to former Morgan Hill School District
Trustee John Kennett
’s column regarding “Superintendent’s Accomplishments,” it was
good to see a smiling John Kennett. The times I attended board
meetings during his tenure, I saw very few smiles on his face. In
fact, I believe he was somewhat of an angry man by the end of his
six years on the board.
EDITOR:
In response to former Morgan Hill School District Trustee John Kennett’s column regarding “Superintendent’s Accomplishments,” it was good to see a smiling John Kennett. The times I attended board meetings during his tenure, I saw very few smiles on his face. In fact, I believe he was somewhat of an angry man by the end of his six years on the board.
John is correct in saying that teaching is very rewarding. However, we know that many districts provide financial rewards to their teachers through medical benefit that are often double what the district offers its teachers. The numbers of teachers in our district who are spending $100 to $300 or more for out-of-pocket expenses for benefits is increasing yearly.
Teachers are also losing income in the district’s decision to not give the full COLA (cost of living adjustments) received from the state for the teachers over the last few years. We also know now that our teachers in this district are the lowest paid teachers compared to other non-basic aid districts. Yes, teaching is rewarding, but not financially rewarding as there are no raises in the foreseeable future, and we don’t even know if there is COLA on the horizon.
As California and the No Child Left Behind Legislation from the federal government continue to demand higher standards from people coming into education, please know that new teachers will also be rewarded. They will be facing serious financial burdens of paying off college loans that become burdensome, as well as trying to live in Silicon Valley with a meager salary that is far below what is needed to survive here.
Don’t forget the additional expenses that most teachers incur because they want to provide positive reinforcements as rewards for the children in Morgan Hill. Teachers, new as well as veterans, often spend out of pocket money for materials, books, tapes, etc. to enhance their classroom programs. Yes, Mr. Kennett, teaching is rewarding, but expensive in more ways than one.
Mr. Kennett remarked that Superintendent Carolyn McKennan “weeded the garden” by removing ineffective employees from our district. I am offended by this statement, and I am sure several people in our community had the hairs on the backs of their necks bristle upon reading that statement. Many veteran teachers can name a handful of extremely competent district level employees who left the district shortly after Dr. McKennan arrived. Their departures were not positive for our district. For that matter, two district employees went on to be superintendents of other districts. Our loss became another district’s gain.
In spite of Mr. Kennett’s departure from the board, our superintendent has made great financial gain – going from one of the “lowest paid superintendents” during her tenure, to now being one of the highest paid. Nice job.
I just ask one question: What about the teachers and our classified employees? I am sure that Mr. Kennett cannot say the same for us. Neither classification has gone from the lowest paid to the highest paid in just those same few years. Yes, Mr. Kennett, teaching is rewarding – but being a superintendent has far greater financial rewards in the Morgan Hill School District as we all know now thanks to the homework of Glen Webb, Donna Foster and Will Champine did for all of us.
Jackie Lee,
El Toro teacher
and parent,
Morgan Hill
