Comments on: Insurance Benefits Reduced For Escambia Teachers, School Employees

By: WhatNext?

WhatNext? — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:03:20 +0000

Florida is already ranked as one of the worst ten states in the U.S. for teachers (not based just on pay). Besides the increases in insurance, there was also just a change which takes 3% of a teacher’s salary for retirement. Great timing. Seems they could have at least given some breathing room between the two changes. Sad, too, that we have some admin people in the district who are drawing a hefty retirement pay and have been rehired into another top paying position. The teachers I know regularly spend their own money for classroom supplies (things that get used up by students – paper, pencils, markers, etc.), not to mention things like classroom libraries (which many are required to have). I won’t be spending my own money this year.

By: Felicia Jones

Felicia Jones — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:22:26 +0000

We moved from Century in ‘98 when my husbad got his degree for teaching. We moved into Alabama (up to Guntersville Lake) simply because THE PAY AND BENEFITS or LACK there of….We would take a $10,000 pay CUT to come back home not to mention those benefits. That is pitiful! They should switch to the system Alabama has- Generics for EVERYONE only $5….If you want name brand when generic is available you pay $50. Prescriptions that are not available in generic, we pay $30 for. So believe you me, you say “can I get something in a generic please….” when the Dr. write out that scrip… It is a shame that Florida has low pay and not good benefits for the teachers…

No wonder the schools are behind in scores….NO TEACHERS will want to work for less pay and less benefits why would the good ones WANT to move to Florida…. so sad the way they are doing the teachers………

By: Dixie Chick

Dixie Chick — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:24:16 +0000

Wonder how many of those school board employees have the school insurance?

By: Look&See

Look&See — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:28:09 +0000

My, MY, My
The masters of waste. My vote would go to the School District for most wasteful spending of all local goverments. Remember the half cent tax to help the School District well maybe they don’t need it anymore.They seem to have a nack for wasteing money with buying camera systems for the schools and the buses instead of dealing with the problems. They seem to have a bad track record with dealing with misuse of property in the District. As camshaft said he seen a couple of top District bigshots covering it up with the shovels. This is very true! Its the good old boy system in the District that is out of control. When will the District start hiring honest/trust worthy people to run this District. If you are willing to turn a blind eye to the corrouption that gos on in the School District from the higher ups then you should apply for a top level job because thats all they hire (Crooks)

Run them college boys out of office and put some honest/trust worthy common sense people in there to run things

We need a tax watch group to watch over the District spending and maybe save us (The tax payer) money Maybe stop the half cents tax!!!!

By: bleh

bleh — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:58:33 +0000

Well all of the Republicans are against the Public Option, or any regulation so this will only get worse.

So stop complaining about it, if you support these ideas

By: wonder

wonder — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:30:30 +0000

Why are we paying for children that play sports insurance? Why not have parents sign a release form . Have the parents show proof of insurance. It is not right to pay for childrens insurance that play sports. Do you know how many things a teacher is exposed to every day and then it goes home to their family. If anyone one needs a break when it comes to insurance it would be all the people that work at our schools in Escambia. IT IS NOT RIGHT TO PLAY FOR INSURANCE FOR THE CHILDREN THAT PLAYS SPORTS AND NOT THE SCHOOL STAFF. HOW MUCH IS THE SCHOOL BOARD PAYING FOR THE SPORTS INSURANCE????????????????????????????????????????????

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:58:45 +0000

health care is cheap

sick care can be expensive

By: Tracy

Tracy — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:31:30 +0000

What hasn’t been mentioned is this… They lowered the copay to $20, no copays for wellness and preventative care visits… but they are imposing a deductable of $2500… so how are they saving us $$$$

By: camshaft

camshaft — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:58:25 +0000

Well if the School District were rid of all the crooks that work there and the same for the board ,We might have some money in the pot for insurance. But as long as it is business as usual We will always be broke. They waste money for things that They dont need……powder coated windows in buses…..not tinted but coated frames in which the standard ones never gave problems.how many extra $$$$$ per bus, low profile hatches how much extra.low profile hatches with a tall air conditiong unit on top….why the extra expense for the hatches when the air unit is way more costly……the trees must know the diffrence.I saw several big shots with golden shovels …..wonder what They were covering up.

By: Old Cherokee

Old Cherokee — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:41:54 +0000

I noticed that all five members voted for it, so they must have seen the handwriting on the wall. With less money coming in, someone must make the tough decisions as to what to fund and what to cut. I’m afraid that in a couple of years, this will seem like a small issue when compared to what will be taking place at that time. Prepare yourselves for more taxes, less benefits and fewer salary increases.
At least the politicians are getting creative about raising taxes. Now that they are taking in less road taxes, due to all of us driving less and driving more fuel-efficient vehicles, they are considering a tax on each mile that you drive. When we are made aware of all the paperwork we will be required to do, we’ll insist that they just raise gasoline taxes. They will do so RELUCTANTLY, of course.