Editor:
What are our Sunshine Coast accountable elected school trustees doing during these costly harmonized sales tax restraint times? Are they restraining themselves? No. On Tuesday, Oct. 12, board vice-chair Dave Mewhort, trustees Jason Scott and Ken Sinnott, without consulting with our dedicated teachers and school Parent Advisory Committee parents, voted to give themselves a 20 per cent pay increase, effective Dec. 1, justified by chair Silas White.
The trustees increased their pay, aware that the board's revenue dropped, resulting in severe cuts to badly-needed guided reading programs, necessary to help kids strengthen their vital reading skills.
What's more important - helping our children strengthen reading skills or self-seeking trustees wanting a 20 per cent increase in their pay?
Ask the trustees to roll back their rich raise and invest our tax money in kids' programs necessary to help them get ahead in life.
B.C.'s Ombudsman can be called free of charge at 1-800-567-3247 to request him to advise chair White to hold a board meeting with all seven trustees present for the purpose of reconsidering the board's motion to increase the trustees pay.
With all trustees voting, their decision will be fairer, I suspect. If not, in November 2011, taxpayers will elect new trustees.
Arnet Tuffs
Sechelt
