SCHOOL BOARD CANCELS THREE PAID HOLIDAYS

THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ON WEDNESDAY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO CANCEL THREE PAID HOLIDAYS FROM EMPLOYEES FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.  AN IMPASSE MEETING WAS HELD AT THE BOARD OFFICE WEDNESDAY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE, BUT THE BOARD HEARING SIDED WITH SUPERINTENDENT DOUG WHITAKER’S RECOMMENDATIONS.  PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY ONLY ABOUT FORTY PERCENT OF TEACHERS VOTED ON THE CONTRACT PROPOSAL, AND OF THOSE FIFTY-SIX PERCENT REJECTED IT.  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY WILL SAVE A LITTLE MORE THAN ONE POINT SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS BY ELIMINATING AT LEAST THREE DAYS OF PAY PER FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE.  CHARLOTTE FLORIDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT JOHN LENOVIC TOLD THE SUN THE TEACHERS PREFERRED TO HAVE FURLOUGH DAYS, WHERE TEACHERS WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORK BUT ALSO WOULD NOT GET PAID INSTEAD OF LOSING PAID HOLIDAYS.