FL Teachers, police officers and firefighters upset about Scott's pension plans

St. Petersburg Times ^ | February 8, 2011 | Tom Marshall, David DeCamp and Craig Pittman

[Dedbone]

Can someone tell me what classroom supplies are bought by the teachers? Seriously.

[wbill]

If public employees should be paid a salary comparable to their worth in the private sector then we should cut their salaries by 20-50% right off the top.

Plenty of useless bureaucrats in the private sector, too. When you see headlines like "Company makes targeted layoffs, 5000 employees impacted", the deadwood is always the first to go.

Note, a "targeted" layoff is way different from a "plant closing" or something....closings get everyone, good and bad.

You're right though, Gov't at all levels could swing a pretty big axe. When DC has bad weather, goes to "essential employees only" and no workers show up .... that's a pretty big hint. :-)

[Alice in Wonderland]

Can someone tell me what classroom supplies are bought by the teachers? Seriously.

My grandson was in the Beta Club in middle school. At the end of the school year the teacher in charge of the club gave the students little goodie bags that had pens with their names engraved on them and a few other school type supplies. I'm assuming those were considered 'classroom supplies'.

[Mopp4]

Thanks....I realize now that the problem with my earlier post is that with social security, my money is not going to an account setup just for me. Which pisses me off and should piss of union members too...at least the 5% contribution would go into an account specifically for the member....I think....

[Jacquerie]

Please explain DROP. Sounds like a scam.

[Florida native]

DROP = Deferred Retirement Option Program

Basically, you reach retirement age/date and join the program (usually 5 years from date you actually plan to retire, but you can leave the program and retire sooner if you choose).

During that time, you stop accruing years of service...but you continue to draw your normal paycheck. While you continue working, you draw your retirement into an account that you will receive in a lump sum or periodic disbursements paid at the end of the DROP period.

The biggest issue I have with DROP - those in the program can choose to return to work after 1 month (before 7/1/2010) or after 6 months (after 7/1 2010)and begin working again drawing a paycheck, while still drawing retirement.

The original reason for DROP was to slow the loss of highly qualified teachers during a teacher shortage. Today, it is no longer needed...and is one reason why new teachers cannot find employment.