As bank robber Willie Sutton explained, That s where the money is. Don t get me wrong. I d like to see teachers entry-level salaries doubled. Nothing s more important to our lives, to our nation, than the early child care and education of our children. And throw in economic growth, national defense, public health, reduction of crime, and global competitiveness.
Education is central to everyone s welfare.
We need to encourage the best and the brightest of our young people the college students who have their choice of any career to become K-12 teachers. That takes salaries competitive with doctors, engineers and lawyers. But until our nation, and our state, are prepared to make that commitment we re left with current income. We can t print money and we can t run deficits. The board s bargaining process with teachers has begun.