The interesting problem is the five free days that are given teachers. Eliminate this and over $1 million is saved. Propose this and see if the teachers get on board. All the school board has to do is just eliminate this provision and if anyone is upset then have them sue.

Also, more savings could be obtained if some way to reduce sick leave was devised; i.e., pay the teachers 1/2 daily rate for every day they accumulate at retirement time or give them credit for IPERS in lieu of using sick leave.

A vivid example of sick leave was a conversation I overheard at a business on North Court Street. The teacher came in on a Monday. A person asked him, “Don’t you have classes today?” The teacher replied, “no.” The teacher went mudding in a four-wheeler on the previous Saturday and decided to wash the truck on Monday. He called in sick and laughed about it; one less day to face the idiots in class. Note that Sunday was not appropriate to wash the truck.

Teachers have a tough time with the disruptive student, usually three-to-five per classroom, but personal days are not the solution to give a teacher a break from the frustration of having to deal with the disruptive student.

Bob Venator

Ottumwa and

Quito, Ecuador