Advertisement

Letters: School District should also reward nonteachers

 
Published Oct. 30, 2014

Remember other school employees

On Nov. 4, the citizens of Hernando County are going to vote on a 1-cent tax on all sales in the county except food and medicine.

If passed, this money, over the next 10 years, will be split among Hernando County, the Hernando school system and the city of Brooksville. That is just fine, if the money is spent wisely.

There are plans to spend a good deal of this money on computers and notebooks for students. The rest of the School District's share will go to school repairs and raises for teachers and administrators.

There is one part of the School District that is always overlooked when it comes to pay and pay raises. And, in my opinion, these School District's employees are probably the most important part of the whole system.

I am talking about the workers in the lunch rooms; the mechanics who keep the school buses running; the janitorial staff that clean up our schools after the children, teachers and administrators; and, most importantly, the bus drivers and bus attendants.

Without this part of the School District, our schools would not have students to teach. These employees get up before the sun rises to prepare breakfasts for the children and keep their buses on the road and to drive our children to school. I am not sure what the work schedule is for the janitorial staff, but I am sure it does not consist of a normal work schedule.

Even if these employees were to make the minimum wage of $10.10 per hour that the president is proposing and they were afforded the luxury of working a 40-hour week, they would still be underpaid what they are worth to the district in terms of making the system run the way it needs to run.

So, in short, take some of this new tax money, throw in some of the regular funding Hernando County receives from the federal and state coffers and pay these "Most Valuable of Employees" the money they deserve.

Just spent that penny wisely.

John Pierotti, Brooksville

Women deserve a state of equality

Since the earliest days of our democracy, Americans have taken great pride in our pursuit of equality. It is a right for which many have bravely struggled and the ideal that challenges us even today to build a better democracy and forge a future in which our children will know no boundaries. Election Day on Nov. 4 should be a time when we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of full equality for women and girls around the world.

On Election Day in 1920, American women exercised their right to vote for the first time. Women's accomplishments in education, business, science, art, medicine, athletics and every other field have made our state better and stronger. The courage and determination of American women are demonstrated in the personnel serving in our armed forces and foreign service officers. Women across America are also helping to secure our country by serving as police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, paramedics and first responders.

However, we must do more than remember. We must build on the legacy of countless women, whether celebrated or anonymous, who have contributed so much to the strength and spirit of our country. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women encourages everyone to take advantage of the rights that the suffragists fought for — please VOTE! The right to vote is a privilege for men and women alike.

Be an informed voter and make a difference. Educate yourself about the candidates and learn more about the issues that are important to you. Make your voice heard by writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper or volunteering with an organization working on issues you care about.

Express your appreciation to the women who are your teachers, principals, coaches, mentors, mothers, aunts and extended family members who are inspirations in your life. Chances are they worked hard to get where they are, and they're helping the next generation of women achieve their goals. If you are near a women's history museum, such as the Florida Women's Hall of Fame located in the rotunda of a Florida Capitol, take some time to visit and learn about the great women who shaped Florida's history.

Laurie Pizzo, immediate past chairwoman, Florida Commission on the Status of Women