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The Enemies Within Our Education system
Education Unions (the N.E.A.), School Administrators and Yes - Even Some Teachers
Posted on 06/26/2008 12:23:35 PM PDT by B-Cause
Houston school workers hope to get $250 gas money By ANA LEY Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON - These days, everyone's feeling the pain at the pump, but for Houston's lowest-paid school district employees - who make as little as $15,000 a year - some relief may be on the way.
On Thursday, the Houston school district is scheduled to vote on a plan that could give employees who make less than $30,000 per year a one-time $250 bonus for gasoline. The $2.85 million budget proposal would cover costs for 10,000 employees.
"We've got bus drivers that can barely afford gas for their own cars and cafeteria workers that can't afford enough food for their own kitchens," said Terry Abbott, spokesman for the Houston Independent School District, which has 30,000 employees. "Such a spectacular increase in gas is really hurting workers."
The money will help, but it is only half of what the workers' union requested, said Wretha Thomas, president of the Houston Educational Support Personnel union. "The workers were happy to get the $250, but they would've been more satisfied if they got the $500," she said.
Some workers say district officials are doing what they can, and the bonus is a sign they are trying to lighten the load of high gas costs, which was averaging $4 a gallon nationwide on Monday.
"It's a great help for some that are less fortunate," said Charlie Reed, a bus driver who earns about $20,000 per year.
Reed, a five-year employee of the state's largest school district, lives 17 miles from work and spends about $100 a week for gas. He said he hopes the district will eventually offer a gas bonus for all of its workers.
"I probably would think that they would find ways to extend it out even more," Reed said. "I think it's the district just starting somewhere. It's starting on the low end and working its way to the top."
Those eligible for a check would include cafeteria workers, bus drivers, custodians and clerks. Because the district's lowest-paid teacher, a first-year employee with a bachelor's degree, earns $42,000 per year, educators won't be eligible. The district's highest-paid teacher earns $70,000 per year.
Tell them to pound sand. They get nothing. If they have a problem, tell them the elections are in November. Do their civic duty and vote the RATs out that are blocking oil drilling in ANWAR and the continental shelf.
34 miles a day, x5 170 miles for work. Suppose he gets 12mpg city in his 08 Yukon(kidding). That's 14ish gallons at $4 a gallon that's $56 bucks. Homey needs to cut out some discretionary travel or get something that gets better mileage. I have an 80 mile/day commute and I spend around 95/week and my truck only gets 18.5mpg. My wife's civic would cut that in half.
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The Enemies Within Our Education system
Education Unions (the N.E.A.), School Administrators and Yes - Even Some Teachers
There are 10,000 people who work for the Houston school district making less than $30,000 per year? I had no idea Houston was such a poor town. Wow.
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