Letter to the Editor: The Neshaminy Contract Advisory Committee

Editor's Note: The following was submitted by a member of the Neshaminy School Board's Contract Advisory Committee and wishes to remain anonymous. He wrote down his personal views of the work the committee is doing. The members of this committee have requested to remain anonymous.

As a member of the Neshaminy Contract Advisory Committee I would like to dispel some of the myths I have been reading and also seen from televised board meetings by Neshaminy Federation of Teachers [NFT] members. I asked to be part of this committee because I feel it is right that the public from time-to-time can add some insight and benefit to our publicly elected officials. This committee was set up by the board as an outreach to the public. In my opinion, that is what all public bodies should do. Just like your local government that has various committees to help advise them on what the community expects from their government this board asked for the public to help them. What a novel idea!

It was not our job to re-write the contract. We were asked to make suggestions of what we feel should be reflected in a contract proposal. These suggestions would not only be limited to monetary issues but also issues that effect educational progress with our children. Many of us have children enrolled in the district and are acutely aware of some of our educational deficiencies as well as administrative concerns. I felt honored and proud to be asked to serve the Neshaminy community.

We were not there to be punitive or act as union busters as some have labeled our charge. We were there to bring some common sense approaches from our experiences as business owners, private sector employees, parents, taxpayers and residents. I personally felt any contract proposal should reflect community standards and expectations.

Why is the NFT so concerned about this "super secret committee" as they have labeled us? Do they have some reason to be afraid of what we might suggest? Then the NFT must feel they have been doing something against the public interest, something that is against the public’s concerns and needs. If this is not so, then the NFT has nothing to be concerned about regarding our suggestions. I have a goal: to help provide for a better Neshaminy School District for our community. I hope the NFT comes to these new meetings with the same.

At the end of our meetings, it will be the Neshaminy School Board negotiating team and their counsel that will form the final contract proposal, not us. This is what is expected from our publicly elected board members and they have done nothing for it to be perceived otherwise. Speaking for myself as I hope others also maintain, this board is meeting the community standards effectively in their public role.

I have total faith and confidence that our board will effectively administer the public trust and bring forth a contract proposal that will meet community standards and be a fair approach to the goals of maintaining a Neshaminy School District into the future. I know they are doing everything possible to meet the deadline for the next contract negotiating date to have a proposal in the hands of the NFT in time for them too be fully prepared for that meeting.

If you'd like to submit a letter to the editor, email nicole.jenet@patch.com