Readers respond to resident miffed at 5 percent teachers' raise

Mr. Burak asked in his letter to the editor, ("Five percent teachers' raise irresponsible," July 13), "Where do I sign up?"

The first place to sign up is at an accredited college or university that educates teachers. Then spend the next four to six years earning a degree that qualifies you to be an educator.

Joan Kwiatkowski

Brick

Oh, Mr. Burak, you are soooo funny. I just finished reading your opinion in the Brick Bulletin ("Five percent teachers' raise irresponsible"). I laughed so hard my coffee almost came out of my nose.

Are you serious? My husband just had his annual review at his job where he received a 5 percent pay increase and he was insulted. But that is my husband (he is not a teacher).

I know for a fact that the teachers and the Board of Education are very happy with the increase. I know this because I was there that night when the board voted the increase in.

In fact, [board member Cynthia] McCarthy gave a very good explanation for the increase. The turnaround for teachers in Brick is three to five years. They come and go because we are one of the lowest-paying districts in the state.

Please, Mr. Burak, come out to Board of Education meetings and see for yourself what is going on.

Also, to answer your question about "where you can sign up," may I suggest getting in touch with the volunteer coordinators at the Primary Learning Center [PLC] and come out to any one of the schools and volunteer some of your time. It's a great way of seeing firsthand how the money is being spent.

I'm sure Trish King, the PLC's preschool teacher for the learning disabled, could use a few extra strong hands to help get her kids in and out of their wheelchairs.

Kim Vaccaro

Brick