Governor or HSTA Furlough Plan

In the recent clash between the Governor and HSTA, a solution is finally sought to eliminate furlough Fridays for the DOE once and for all.

On one side, the Governor's plan, costing the state $62 million, would  return "essential" employees to work and teachers would give up nine non-instructional days. And on the other side, HSTA/BOE's plan, costing the state $92 million, would return all DOE employees to work and convert six non-instructional/planning days to teaching days.

The money would be coming from the "rainy-day" and Hurricane Relief funds. The Governor doesn't need to approve the $92 million plan, but she does need to release money for it, which she clearly stated she would not because "the state can't afford" it.

I stand with the Governor. The main priority should be to return students to school for a full school year of 180 days. And that's exactly what her plan does: it intends to bring back the necessary workers to safely operate the school.

And so what if her plan is contingent on abolishing the BOE? It's going to be the decision of the voters, and if it's what we want, so it will be.