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Dear John Stark,

Thanks for not "piling on" and here are the answers to your questions.

1."overwhelming support for the teachers" does NOT mean the contents of the contract. It means that they deserve a signed one! I haven't met one taxpayer that believes otherwise.

2. your "second" comment I agree entirely on. A "defined contribution plan that would benefit both employees and taxpayers" is the perfect plan John. (but here again you are talking about the contents of the new contract, not whether or not the teachers deserve one)

3.No. We can't agree that the teachers don't need a union. I do agree with you that the 70's version is absolutely "a relic" but I believe it should be new-and-improved, not dismantled. The role of all unions has evolved and the Warwick Teachers Union needs updating but without them the School Committee would rule. At last nights meeting Karen Bachus of the School Committee pointed out that the School Committee staff had "swollen". Imagine if there were no union to provide a checks-and-balance.

4. I totally DO NOT support these"sick out" stunts. I believe they are a poorly decided act of desperation from well-intentioned teachers that are at the end of their rope, but should still be handling themselves with greater restraint. As I have said before, I don't believe I would stand for the way they are being treated but I would just get a job elsewhere. Warwick teachers deserve much better treatment, but a "sick out" is not the answer in my opinion.

5. And, most important to us both, no John, I can't understand it. The School Committee blames the teachers. The Warwick Teachers Union blames the School Committee. Here's what I do know. The teachers are willing to discuss anything. There agenda is a blank pad of paper. That's admirable. The School Committee stubbornly refuses to discuss so many items that the outcome of any discussions can only benefit the School Committee; not the teachers. That is NOT admirable at all! That's wholly unfair and if you described the School Committee's actions as "little more than rearrangement of deck chairs on the Titanic", I would completely agree.

John,

Your questions are respectful and intelligent. I think we can agree that the teachers absolutely deserve a new contract and that was my point. As far as what is in it, that is a matter of negotiation. The overwhelming support that the teachers are presently receiving would disappear if they demanded too much.

Happy Autumn John Stark.

Happy Autumn teachers.

Happy Autumn everyone.

Rick Corrente

The Taxpayers Mayor