SCHOOLS: Raises an insult to teachers

I would like to thank Maureen Dolan for bringing out some interesting facts about the financial mismanagement of Cd’A school district. I am shocked and saddened, but not surprised.

The beneficiaries of these raises probably have some pretty rosy benefits packages as well, which is public information I would think, in case anyone chooses to look them up. Your article didn’t state the fact that Kelly Ostrom, the beneficiary of one of the largest raises, is the chief negotiator for the district’s negotiation team. It makes me sick to remember how hard-hearted and cold she sounded to me when she was told of teachers that are holding two jobs to make ends meet, all the while knowing she is sitting on a $13,268 raise from last year, with a total salary of $75,000!

Last year chief financial officer Wendell Wardell was more than $2 million off in his projected fund balance and he maintained his position with the district. What other business or corporation would have kept a chief financial officer that was capable of such grievous errors? And yet the employees are expected to trust the figures the district’s bargaining committee gives them as fact, and haven’t been padded or manipulated expressly to show that the district has no money to justify raises and benefits being withheld from employees. If I were a teacher I would leave your district!

CHARLENE JONES

Rathdrum