By Bobby Allen
SEEK funding, or dollars per student, has decreased under Bevin. Thats was one of the reasons many teachers “took a sick day” last year to protest in Frankfort. It wasn’t just about the pension. Bevin has gone after these teachers threatening license revocation and fines. As for pay increases, KY teachers have not received a state mandated raise in many years. When one factors inflation into that equation, teachers actually make less now than they did before the last pay raise. These facts are just that, facts. I was actually surprised when I realized teacher pay in WV is better than KY.
Bevin has made it clear how he feels about public education. You mentioned his “really bad comments”. I do believe actions speak louder than words but words are important as well. The most precious resource in this great state is our children. Education MUST come first.
Although I had a long career in Martin County before I retired and decided to teach a few years across the river, many Kentucky teachers are opting to leave the state early in their career, or not even start teaching in the State. Last summer I was contacted by 8 school districts wanting me to teach Math. If a school system cannot find a teacher, they can declare an emergency and hire a retired teacher. The three years I worked in Lawrence County was this same situation.
Just because Bevin sign a law allowing KY schools to teach Bible classes and another law prohibiting abortions doesn’t make this guy a saint. KY Is nothing more than a stepping stone in his personal political career. Remember, he did not live in this state before he became Governor.
I have purposely avoided using the labels Republican/Democrat. I judge people by their actions, not their party affiliation.
Yes, previous administrations have put TRS in jeopardy. Yet, instead of paying back the money that was borrowed, Bevin wanted to scrap the whole thing and move towards a 401K type system, which benefits investors more than it benefits teachers. Luckily the state court stuck that plan down. Bevin may seem like a savior but, well, you’ve heard the old saying, “A wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
you left one very important thing out look at his ads Trump that’s what he is counting on the Donald will fly in here maybe a couple of times and all his Hooplheads will fall in line
The system should be setup so the money follows the student. Then people have a choice of where/how their children are educated. Some like public schools, some perfer private or Christian schools, and some even prefer to home school. So what is wrong with school choice? Even if that means charter schools. Is it fair to the homeschoolers who have to pay school taxes that go to public schools but yet can’t keep any of that money to help teach them at home? I won’t argue about teacher pay but our 44th president economically destroyed our area so the tax revenues don’t justify pay increases. With decreased population and less money to go around higher pay don’t seem likely. A decent amount of the teachers make 40k plus and get off like 3mo a year. Lazer published their salarys long time ago. Its the new teachers making 20k a year that is getting screwed by the current system.
How come only one line in this article hints at the fact that Beshar, Fletcher, etc governors squandered and invested badly the pension fund. They are the reason you/our state are in this mess. Blame Bevin if you want on his approach to fix the pension crisis but don’t fault him for the crisis. Teachers have a lot of faith in all these crooked politicans to invest their pensions wisely. If it was me I would push for personal IRA’s. Now you get to control your retirement, make of it as you will.
Is it ok to bankrupt the state? Take other public employees pensions for the teachers pension? Teachers should get what they were promised but If that isn’t possible shouldn’t you push for a more free system of retirement? Where politicians can’t steal your money or squander it on more freebies for those unproductive in our local society. The system is a bad system, until you realize that very little change is going to happen.
Where is the money going to come from? Teachers deserve a good wage simply because they’re doing double duty. Parents aren’t caring for their own children but worrying about either where they’re next paycheck is coming from or spending what money they have getting high.
This is nothing new for most of the eastern countries whom to this very day are completely controlled by just a few families. Where’s the jobs you were promised to replace the only revenue producing coal ones? Now that these few families have aided to the drug epidemic who is left without a police record the companies could hire anyway?
People wouldn’t need all these so called rehab/ reform clinics if they would have had a living wage to begin with!
These few families just keep buying up property then moving US 23 further and further from the core city of Louisa thinking of only their families future over the dying city’s future. I for one Love Louisa and Lawrence County! It holds a place in my heart like no other area but sadly it will never change for the good.
My suggestion for anyone who cares for their family is to move away. No one should be forced to but on behalf of your generation and many more to follow please consider it. Let the ones in control remain but with less leverage over yours. Life is hard everywhere but with hard work you and your family will prevail! My Prayers are with you either way!