Sammamish Forum December 23

December 22, 2009

By Administrator

Secretaries

deserve raise

Reading the Dec. 2 editorial in the Sammamish Review, one can easily believe that Scrooge has come to Sammamish just in time for the holidays.

School secretaries in the Lake Washington School District are asking for a wage increase because they need to be able to support themselves and their families living in this area. School secretaries have not received a wage increase over the past three years. They have been negotiating a new contract since last spring.

Whatever increase may be received will be for the next few years, once the new contract is finalized. And how much are school secretaries asking for? The Review editorial got its facts wrong. The editorial claims we’re looking for $23-$24 an hour.

That is the amount needed to support basic living expenses in the Eastside area served by the Lake Washington School District. In fact, we’re negotiating with the school district for an increase of at least 10 percent. That means an increase of $1.35 to $2.08 an hour for our members.

A Lake Washington School District secretary currently being paid $13.53 an hour would make $14.88 – and the highest paid secretaries presently at $20.80 an hour would move to $22.88.

As the Review huffs and puffs “Bah” and “Humbug” over school secretaries asking for a living wage, it might do well to remember that without us, there would be no friendly greeting when a new or returning student and parent enters a building, the doors wouldn’t open, the bells wouldn’t ring, the phones wouldn’t be answered, the lights wouldn’t go on, school budgets wouldn’t be maintained, computers and electronic systems would not be maintained or operated efficiently, students wouldn’t receive correct medications and might not get on the correct school bus.

We hope the Lake Washington School District will not join the Review in playing Scrooge as well. After all, the District has an ending fund balance of $17 million.

For the sake of our children and our schools, it’s essential that school secretaries in Lake Washington are paid a fair living wage.

The Lake Washington Educational Support Personnel

Goodbye,

councilpeople

For Kathy we look a millennium ago,

When narrow roads and traffic impeded the flow.

The community spoke and she took the oath,

And made a stand for controlling growth.

She rolled up her sleeves and helped write the code,

For not just the cars but for whatever the mode.

From hikers and bikers came many new voices

So Kathy would focus on transportation choices.

We will miss your sharp tongue and your sharp mind;

Indeed, Councilor Kathy, you are one of a kind!

Now Jack goes back at least one millennium,

With prior experiences that could fill a stadium.

He focused on making a kid-safe city,

Wanting it family-friendly with no waif to pity.

He cajoled fellow citizens to generously participate

And made sure their accomplishments were cause to celebrate.

Through SAMMIs and Rotary he exudes inspiration

To make Sammamish better for the next generation.

Often soft-spoken and with stories to tell

Jack’s part of this city that is doing quite well.

So we come to Lee, the kid on the block

It seems like forever, but who’s watching the clock?

He looks at current budget and the next time around,

With a penchant for keeping us financially sound.

Balance income and spending is his motto,

If we come up short, we can’t start a lotto.

With triple A rating, we bid Lee goodbye;

Crank up that train engine and make it fly.

Now I near the end of my rambling opus

Without you three, it will be hard to focus.

Community Center, Town Center, connectivity and fire,

Topics of challenge, but not really dire.

We’ve come a long way in years numbered 10,

All the best to you three, and come see us again.

Don Gerend

Mayor of Sammamish

Secretaries deserve raise