The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

This has to be the most ridiculous decision I’ve ever heard a board make. You as a group just had two levies fail. You are supposed to be looking at what you have to cut from the budget. But instead, you decide to pay the man who will be cutting the budget, 69% of his pay for 50% of the work. On top of that, you’ll bring in someone new and pay him/her 92% pay for 50% of the work. How can you even be considering this?

I’m sorry Mr. Turner has health issues, but if he wants to retire then he can leave. This school district shouldn’t be providing financing for him to wean into retirement. For years, our superintendents have figured out what to do in this district to make things work. They don’t need a babysitter and since they get the big bucks, they shouldn’t need help changing their diapers either.

Less than a month ago the board found out they would need to cut $800,000 from the budget because the two levies didn’t pass. This is your first budget cut choice, and you are choosing NOT to cut. Do you honestly think a new levy will pass in November? Especially after the board is considering this decision and Rich Black’s comment, “it will be good for voters to be able to see what gets cut.”.

You board directors are employed to make studied and informed decisions that will help the school district. Even if you don’t accept the $50 per meeting pay, (GCDSD Policy 1733) you still can. You are not volunteers! So please, do your job and stop trying to be nice to a retiring employee. Listen to the parents and community members who want teachers, small classrooms, sports, music, band, art, clubs, supplies, special education and all the paraprofessionals we can fit into the schools to help educate students. Because without those, you’ll soon have no school.