Not A Time

For Salary Hikes

To the Editor:

I have been an employee of the Newtown Board of Education for 24 years and a Newtown taxpayer for 35 years. I am knowledgeable of the budget process and annually participate in preparing one elementary school’s budget. As president of the Newtown Federation of Educational Personnel (secretaries/clerical/tech), a situation has come to my attention that I feel necessary to share with the voters of Newtown.

In light of these financially difficult budget years, our union agreed to no wage increase in the 2011/2012 school year. Somehow the administration has found the monies to reclassify/increase salaries of two employees. Although I objected that one of the salary increases was double digit, the administration went ahead and awarded the reclassification and a substantial salary increase.

It is for this reason I have decided to vote No in the upcoming referendum on June 5.

Joanne Didonato

Underhill Road, Sandy Hook                                           May 29 ,2012