Dear editor,

The Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corp. Board of School Trustees has remained largely silent over the past months in regards to negotiations between the board and our teachers’ union.

We have done that because there are important issues at stake and public debate can be divisive and detract from our common purpose.

The board agrees with the teachers’ union, that the taxpayers have the right to know how their tax dollars have been spent. A summary of the 2007 general fund expenditures has been prepared for our taxpayers to see exactly where each dollar was spent. It is broken down in categories with what percentage of general fund dollars that represents. In summary, 86.2 percent goes to pay salaries and benefits, 4.2 percent for utilities, 5.3 percent to ROD, 1.8 percent for supplies-instruction, 0.4 percent for supplies-admin, 1.7 percent for maintenance and 0.4 percent for professional development, legal and mileage.

The historical treatment of our teachers has been more than fair. We have always tried to give more than the state average percent increases. The board takes no gratification in having to offer a 0 percent raise at this time for any of our staff. We have nothing but respect for our certified and noncertified staff and we are proud to be paying our teachers above state average. The increases we see each year through salaries, benefits, utilities, etc., have to be covered first with any new money the corporation would receive. In 2007, we ended the year with a deficit of $92,791.00 and 2008 is not projected to see a surplus.

We share the sentiment from the teachers’ union that these are your tax dollars and we encourage you to ask questions, come to the meetings and be involved where you see an opportunity.

The state of the school corporation should be open and clear, and when it seems there is only mistrust, this community will never see the full potential of this school district. The only losers in that setting are our kids.

Kim Weber, school board president, and

the Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corp. Board of Trustees