Northwestern Lehigh School District trims tax hike to 4.2%

I don't care if it is a .01% increase in taxes. It is wrong to hold a perpetual mortgage on an individuals property in the form of something called property taxes. I thought fast Eddie in Harrisburg was getting rid of property taxes by bringing in the casino's. Imagine that... another lying politician!

It looks like no one cares about the increase except you.

Maybe now they can come up with a decent contract for those hard working teachers, as opposed to ignorance up there with the extra savings...or is this their excuse to claim no funds to increase teachers pay?

That all the local school districts need to be audited. I truly find it hard to believe that they cannot hold spending down for one tear. They are just totaly out of control and have to much power. Whitehall Coplay School district has yet not to have a tax increase yearly since I moved here. How about the assistant superintendent of Bethlehem at a $800/day salary. Time to rein in these overpaid egotists. Rember if we want change we must vote and we must run for school boards. Run under cutting taxes and you will win. Million dollar turf fields and you have no say what so ever. Irragation systems and you have no say what so ever.
The belief of higher taxes removes the undesireable element from the community now includes the working stiff.

Storm wrote:

It looks like no one cares about the increase except you.

Try reading the other posts. If you don't care about what you pay in taxes, you should. Or, maybe you are one of those ever growing number of teachers doing less and demanding more.

While saying that the numbers "look better" than previously expected the article says very little about what is being given up in order to come in "less" than expected. Less than who expected?! At the very end of the article they mention that the numbers were better due to "reductions in staffing, benefits and electrical costs." How is it that the ONLY major budget reduction mentioned is a reduction is staffing? I can tell you none of the administrators cut their 6 figure salaries to make the budget better. In fact right before this happened they all give themselves nice hefty raises. This district should be ashamed of themselves for "saving the budget" by taking teachers out of the classroom and cutting classes and programs that their students deserve!!

Ok, so now they definitely won't have any money left to pay the educators in the lowest paying SD any increase,(contract ends this summer). Good job school board! Bottom of the barrel for all new hires (if they can afford any ).Bigger class sizes and lack luster programs for my child, just what today's future is worth.

Another View wrote:

<quoted text>
Try reading the other posts. If you don't care about what you pay in taxes, you should. Or, maybe you are one of those ever growing number of teachers doing less and demanding more.

Why do so many of you make the statement you did-

Or, maybe you are one of those ever growing number of teachers doing less and demanding more.

Have you been in the schools to make an analysis of this statement. How do you know that teachers are doing less. The demanding more can be explained when teachers negotiate a contract but the "doing less" needs to be clarified. Look, you can't come into these room and just write nonsense that will make your point. There are people here waiting to pounce on nonsense like this. I guess I could say that the farmers working the farms in the Northwestern School District are working less and demanding more for their crops. How do I know this? This is stupid to say when I do not know if the farmers are working more or less. I drive by the farms but it doesn't give me the right to make that determination.

So just give me the facts as to how you know teachers are working less". Do you have authorization to enter the school and supervise the teachers. What is your basis? I anxiously await your response.

Storm wrote:

<quoted text>
Why do so many of you make the statement you did-
Or, maybe you are one of those ever growing number of teachers doing less and demanding more.
Have you been in the schools to make an analysis of this statement. How do you know that teachers are doing less. The demanding more can be explained when teachers negotiate a contract but the "doing less" needs to be clarified. Look, you can't come into these room and just write nonsense that will make your point. There are people here waiting to pounce on nonsense like this. I guess I could say that the farmers working the farms in the Northwestern School District are working less and demanding more for their crops. How do I know this? This is stupid to say when I do not know if the farmers are working more or less. I drive by the farms but it doesn't give me the right to make that determination.
So just give me the facts as to how you know teachers are working less". Do you have authorization to enter the school and supervise the teachers. What is your basis? I anxiously await your response.

Sounds like I've hit a nerve. Well, let's see... when I attended school, teachers taught classes of 30+ students. Now,(and this is the voice of experience with my own children) they are teaching classes of under 20 students in many cases and have a teachers aide. That is what I call doing less with more! Enough already.. stop complaining that the union contract is not giving you enough and be glad you have a job that pays well, gives you great benefits, great retirement (inculding medical after you retire), short working hours and summers off to take on part-time work elsewhere. How dare you make insinuations and try to compare teachers to farmers, when you know full well the facts! Perhaps if farmers were in charge of the school board, many (certainly not all) the teachers would learn how to work hard! Good bye.

Another View:

It seems I struck a nerve. You were doing your best in the first part of the response then just blew up. There you go again making a statement that teachers are teaching less than 20 students in a class and they have an aide. Lie, untrue, not even close to being right-- what more can I say about someone who knows nothing about education.

Then you say enough already, stop complaining. Why don't you stop complaining and shooting your mouth off when you do not have the facts.

Then you say "how dare I make insuinuations and try to compare teachers to farmers. Now take a deep breathe go back and re-read my post about the farmers and tell me where the comparison is????? Did I compare their salaries- no did I compare their working hours- no did I compare their working conditions- no did I comapare the farmers health care plan againist the teachers plan- no. You are clueless about your comments. Think before you write boy. Re-read the post before you make false statements. I will explain it as simply as I can- If I drive by a farm, I am in NO position to make statements about that farmers work because that would be unfair. Just as it is unfair for you to make the statements you did in your previous post that teachers work less and want more.

If you would like farmers in charge of the school board, just find 9 of them to run for the board and get them elected. That is the American way. Several years ago, the board president was a well know farmer from but I cannot remember his name.

I think you post quite often but when you make accusations or as you put it insinuations, make sure they are backed up by accurate facts or go post on another paper. Unbelievable.

Hey Another View,

Are you saying you think its better for teachers to have larger classes and be able to give less to each student? I think I should invite you into my district and you can teach for a day. If you think a better education comes from less individualized instruction, I think you need to go back to school. And there is usually only an aide for students that have physical or mental issues, not every classroom gets one! Sounds like you want to return to centuries ago, one room school house, huh? Remember corporal punishment was allowed then too, shall we bring that back in your most righteous opinion? OMG, kids please stay in school so you don't end up like this guy!

Jonas"

He just turns things around amkes untrue statements. he must have heard that there is a thing called teacher aides and thus assumes every teacher has one.

Another view is just a frustrated person who screwed around in school, thought he was the class clown, gave teachers a hard time, got out of school and then asked himself- now what am I going to do? He got a poor job and is now blaming everyone else. He should have put more interest in his education and developed good habits and today he might be happier.

Been there done that. Classrooms with 30 plus students little or no individualized instruction and overworked under taught students no able to to make in the big world. Take a big look at California. Oh, by the way NWLSD what about that 4 million slush fund for a rainy day.

In reading this post, it appears there are many teachers writing. It must be nice to spend all day on the computer instead of teaching your students. I agree with another view. You guys will say anything and do anything to hold the taxpayer hostage. Oh, wait, it's for the kids. Nonsense, stop complaining, stop attacking those who question you and do your job and shut up like the rest of us!

Hey Observation,

You must not be doing anything either to have time to post! Or are you one of those web crawler teacher haters looking for someplace to stick your nose? If you don't live in this SD, stay out of this discussion.

By all means people have a right to their opinions. Teachers at Northwestern Lehigh School District teachers are the lowest payed in the county. What's wrong with that picture? Luckily, their students are not close to being the lowest in standardized test scores. The teachers in NWLSD are not payed lifetime health benefits as most people assume. In fact, most teachers' at NWLSD benefits don't get them past year two of retirement before they kick in the entire amount at their own expense. Apparently, "Another View" has not attended a public school in years. The pressures on teachers today is immense. The teachers that are retiring are not looking back as they know the expectations and work loads continue to grow and nothing gives on the other end! Teaching is a job most take not expecting to get rich in. The rewards are great but the fact that many of the teachers of NWLSD cannot afford a home in the district in which they teach is pathetic. The board members of NWLSD need to consider the reason they were elected, to benefit the youngest clients, the students. The quality teachers that are young are going to leave while the going is good for them. We all know in many cases, that the older and more experience a teacher gets the less likely another district will hire them.( too costly) Hang on to your teachers, reward loyalty and that will only come back to help this already wonderful community! NWL was an awesome district back in the day! Let's take care of our teachers and staff and students and value the future of this fine district. Ignore those folks that are outsiders looking in that know not what they say. Our community can afford a few more dollars to pay the staff. Building projects not teacher salaries are raising taxes. Did we really need to update our Administrative offices? Fiscal restraint needs to start with the top brass. Don't penalize the people who spend more time with our children during the day then we do. I'm sorry but I can cut out one subway sandwich a week to help out my community teacher.

FORCLOSURES wrote:

I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 4 YEARS AND MY TAXES HAVE BEEN INCREASED 800.... HELLO, AM I PERSONALLY PAYING FOR SOMEONE ELSES HUGE SALARY WHEN I CAN BARELY AFFORD TO EAT... THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!

Foreclosures are caused by people not having enough money to pay for their mortgages becasue of a balloon rider that went into effect. We have had millions of home froreclosures in this country this year and it is all due to school taxes!!!!! Watch the news and you might learn something. I have heard this arguement for over 35 years that people and especially senior citizens will lose their homes. I know of people who spoke up at board meetings personally and to this day they still live in the same house 20 years later. Enough of this nonsense.