"The prevailing wage bill is another mixed message"
To: The Honorable Members of the Senate Labor Committee:
My name is Richard Snyder. I am the Executive Director for Dollar$ and Sense. Our organization was founded seven years ago with the purpose of providing research and constructive solutions to accomplish quality education and efficient spending. We have represented up to 42 school districts across a wide range of issues and we work as closely as possible with other organizations, both urban and suburban. We are absolutely a special interest group. Our commitment is to our children and our future.
We are not in favor of S2850. Whether this bill is intended to create fairness for food service workers, or if it is misguided generosity isn’t the point we will address. S2850 comes to us at a time when fair, measured against an elevated standard, is a luxury we can’t afford. Elevated wages are available to very few in the current climate.
Our greatest concern is the mixed message. The message reverberating throughout the state is to spend less. Existing legislation and regulations go to great lengths telling us to economize. This bill says to spend more.
November 3rd we were all sent a message. It was made clear that the Bosses and the Fans aren’t happy with how the team is playing. Voters couldn’t fire the team, so they fired the manager. The Legislature remained intact, but the Governor was told to leave. Mixed messages don’t provide constructive solutions.
The mixed messages are many places. Our Department of Education has become a Department of Regulations, at the very time when we are looking to make huge educational advancements. We need educational leadership more than ever and yet we are not letting leaders lead. They are used as “regulations police” instead.
We are told to grow and shrink at the same time. We are told to consolidate our schools at the same time some are promoting the need for charter schools. Are smaller schools that exist outside of many onerous regulations the way to go; or should we have severely regulated k-12 districts with 5000 students? This is a mixed message.
We have been given 215 pages of accountability regulations that contain redundancies and costs that far exceed the efficiencies they are intended to implement. The NJSBA produced a report, with the assistance of NJASBO, in June of 2009. The report made clear that the Accountability Regulations create additional costs and administrative burden, all in the name of efficiency.
The Assembly has bills A4140, the “Subcontracting” bill, and A4142, the “Arbitration” bill. These bills were given to Legislators and released from Committee on the very same day. There was minimal discussion and debate. Both bills, if passed, would impose additional financial hardship on school districts. How could they even be considered during these trying times? This is a mixed message.
The Senate Labor Committee can set the standard right now. Senator Sweeney and Assemblywoman Oliver must make the point clear to the Legislature; No More Mixed Messages! We can’t afford it, and it hurts our children.
As always, we of Dollar$ and Sense will gladly welcome the opportunity to work with you, and all others to find solutions that accomplish quality education and efficient spending.
My name is Richard Snyder. I am the Executive Director for Dollar$ and Sense. Our organization was founded seven years ago with the purpose of providing research and constructive solutions to accomplish quality education and efficient spending. We have represented up to 42 school districts across a wide range of issues and we work as closely as possible with other organizations, both urban and suburban. We are absolutely a special interest group. Our commitment is to our children and our future.
We are not in favor of S2850. Whether this bill is intended to create fairness for food service workers, or if it is misguided generosity isn’t the point we will address. S2850 comes to us at a time when fair, measured against an elevated standard, is a luxury we can’t afford. Elevated wages are available to very few in the current climate.
Our greatest concern is the mixed message. The message reverberating throughout the state is to spend less. Existing legislation and regulations go to great lengths telling us to economize. This bill says to spend more.
November 3rd we were all sent a message. It was made clear that the Bosses and the Fans aren’t happy with how the team is playing. Voters couldn’t fire the team, so they fired the manager. The Legislature remained intact, but the Governor was told to leave. Mixed messages don’t provide constructive solutions.
The mixed messages are many places. Our Department of Education has become a Department of Regulations, at the very time when we are looking to make huge educational advancements. We need educational leadership more than ever and yet we are not letting leaders lead. They are used as “regulations police” instead.
We are told to grow and shrink at the same time. We are told to consolidate our schools at the same time some are promoting the need for charter schools. Are smaller schools that exist outside of many onerous regulations the way to go; or should we have severely regulated k-12 districts with 5000 students? This is a mixed message.
We have been given 215 pages of accountability regulations that contain redundancies and costs that far exceed the efficiencies they are intended to implement. The NJSBA produced a report, with the assistance of NJASBO, in June of 2009. The report made clear that the Accountability Regulations create additional costs and administrative burden, all in the name of efficiency.
The Assembly has bills A4140, the “Subcontracting” bill, and A4142, the “Arbitration” bill. These bills were given to Legislators and released from Committee on the very same day. There was minimal discussion and debate. Both bills, if passed, would impose additional financial hardship on school districts. How could they even be considered during these trying times? This is a mixed message.
The Senate Labor Committee can set the standard right now. Senator Sweeney and Assemblywoman Oliver must make the point clear to the Legislature; No More Mixed Messages! We can’t afford it, and it hurts our children.
As always, we of Dollar$ and Sense will gladly welcome the opportunity to work with you, and all others to find solutions that accomplish quality education and efficient spending.
Comment
About
© 2010 Created by Dollar$ and Sense on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
You need to be a member of Dollar$ & Sense Education Advocacy to add comments!
Join Dollar$ & Sense Education Advocacy