Why don't the teachers band together and take a small cut in pay to save the jobs of the other teachers. We are in unusually hard times and you would think since tax payers and everyone else is giving up something (some more than others) that the union would try to save the jobs of these teachers. In fact when ever there is a cut in state aid to schools, the teachers & Administrators should burden half that cut and the tax payers the other half. Especially since teachers and Administrator pay is over half of the cost of our taxes.

Dear j mcg,

I see your affraid to put your name so it makes it easy to insult other people.
I have worked for many companys that when times got bad people got together and saved other workers jobs by taking cut in pay for a short amount of time in order to save the other people from being laid off.
I see nothing wrong with that. I don't see why you had to insult me , are you a child?
When times are bad I don't see why as a tax payer I have to carry the burden to give teachers raises. Many companys hold back raises when the company is doing poorly. It allows the companys to stay in business.
IF you want to have an intellegent conversation please contact me directly and stop posting those juvinile responses. I will not respond to them any more unless we are face to face.

Wow - this is not good. Teachers salaries are not high to begin with, so I can not agree w/ the first post. I do not know everyone's situation to say take a pay cut - maybe some can, maybe some can not.
To burden, already over-burdened tax payers is not the answer either.
We moved here to get a good school system, my taxes are out-rageous to begin with. Maybe Cornwall should re-evaluate the older homes, and how their taxes have increased over time.
Just rambling, of course as a parent I want my children to receive the best education possible. It is a shame it has come to this.

Please answer me these questions Mr. Olley:

Should every teacher in NYS take a pay cut? You do realize this is an epidemic that is not just in Cornwall? Do you have children? Grandchildren? Do you think education is of any value whatsoever? Who taught you to read and write well enough to post a website comment? and Finally, do you think a Hollywood actor (for example) is more important to be paid such an undeserved Annual Income (all to entertain the masses) in opposition of an EDUCATOR of the children who...ahem... ARE our FUTURE? My point is Mr. Olley that teachers are GROSSLY UNDERPAID for what their purpose is in comparison to many other ridiculously overpaid professions like sports and media figures. I am sorry that you have bitterness toward this profession. How about Albany takes the pay cut. Now there?s a novel idea! Pay cut the ones who are RESPONSIBLE. That is IDEAL and FAIR.

BTW Teachers also pay taxes. The main take away here is, cutting in education now will damage us all in the long run. No investment now, will not pay the dividends we will need when we retire.

Teachers have very little to give up compared to all the others you are referring to that are giving up something. The Ivory Tower owners in Albany certainly aren't "giving up". The teachers already have to fork out their own money to compensate for the lack of supplies our tax money is supposed to provide. Many do not know this who are not in the profession. I challenge you to find a teacher, especially elementary, who does not do this.

Another major point: Public Schools were NEVER meant to be a business. The one room schoolhouse was not intended to be a for-profit corporation. Public schools are supposed to be a function and indication of our civilized society.

I agree with you on your community point. We used to be a community of togetherness in days past. It would be wonderful to have that back again but I think you are hitting the wrong people with your angst to take that burden. Because we have become a greedy, materialistic society you are saying that our teachers are the chosen ones who must fix our society's and world's biggest woes? Absolutely preposterous.

We need transparency as to where our taxpaying money is actually going. We pay more than we ever have in school taxes and I don't mind giving to education but why are they cutting anything in the schools with all these tax raises. Where is our money going??? Transparency please and for once in history stop blaming the teachers for the public school mess. Place the responsibility on the ones who take and hold all our money!
May God help our children and those who teach them.

Ivy Levinson, let me ask you a question and a will answer it my self.
Who taught you to read and write well enough to post a website comment?
Obviously nobody. You fail to understand John Olley's suggestions, assign statements to him he did not post and ramble on, occasionally using capitals as if afraid we would miss the point.
Nobody claims teachers should not be well compensated; nor can the Cornwall tax payers be compared to overpaid sport stars and the like. John just proposes to share the burden and save jobs (and maybe preserve the quality of education in Cornwall; which actually only makes sense if you did not learn to read and write like this right here).

It stinks we as taxpayers have to be unfairly affected
by State and local budgetary
mismanagement. Simply everyone should appeal their tax assessment
And make the best choices during elections.
KEVIN KIRK

Of course,it still stinks
in respect to the education workers being unfairly affected
Mr.Kirk

I am a teacher myself and had the same thought to save the job of a colleague. However, it seems to be a dangerous move, it sets precedence, which could be quite harmful in the future. Tough situation, no one knows what to do.

Let me try to explain my position one more time.
"extrodinary circumstances require extrodinary responses?

I am not saying that teachers should take a permanant cut in pay. I was just suggesting that this could be one of the many answers to our problem.

I put three children through the Cornwall schools. I fought for every school budget before and after my children were in school.

But the problem now is the state is cutting back money to the schools. So is it the responsiblity of persons on fixed income,unemployed and with no children and mortgages arrears to have to pay more so teachers can get their next raise?

I don't know? but was just suggesting maybe the teachers could help us out for a year or two.

I apologize to all teachers that know me and who don't. You know I have always supported and respected careers. I was just trying to find a way to protect those that were getting laid off without jepodizing the financial situations of some tax payers. I didn't feel that a temporary small cut in pay or hoding off on 1 or two yearly raises would be as tramatic as some people are feeling during these times.

80% of a school budget is made up of salary and benefits and the remainder pays for everything else. The hard cold reality is that salary and benefits are the prime dirvers of ever increasing budgets. We are now at the tipping point where property taxes are simply out of control and are not sustainable. At what point do we start to address the main driver issue? With declining property values still far out on the horizon and the prospect of 4%-6% tax increases year over year, what incentive is there to remain a homeowner in this area?

Thank you Mr. Olley for clarifying your position. It certainly makes more sense. My wife meant no disrespect to you or your ability to read and write. She was just trying to make the point that everyone has been influenced by teachers in some way or form. As a teacher, she is very passionate about this profession and how our society values it. Being raised by teachers, I am just as passionate about it as she is.

As for Mr. Westerduin, you failed to understand the point completely. Furthermore, you certainly do not speak for anybody else other than yourself - and thank goodness for that.

If you have any more insults, look me up. Also, try proof reading your statement.

Why not just get rid of the Administror, the assistant, also assistant principal,and just concentrate on academics. Sports should be separate as in foreign countries parents pay for the private sports, This way seniors don't get stuck for all the school tax extras.

save the teachers, we need them.