03-07-2008, 12:42 AM
Police union sends mailer asking voters to oust School Board members
Fliers oppose members' re-election
By Marc Freeman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
March 6, 2008
Palm Beach County's police union is firing back at the School Board after losing a bid last month for better raises for school officers.
The Police Benevolent Association, which represents police officers countywide, recently mailed a flier to thousands of county registered voters and supporters. It accuses the School Board and Superintendent Art Johnson of "not making law enforcement protection in our schools a priority."
On Feb. 13 the board awarded a 2 percent raise to the 170-officer force, which protects more than 168,000 students, ending a negotiating impasse with the union. Officers sought 5 percent raises, but district administrators said there wasn't enough money in the budget. School police leaders say their salaries are out of line with other police agencies in Palm Beach County.
Union President John Kazanjian on Wednesday said the mailing — which cites school crime statistics — is the first shot by police in a campaign to oust some School Board members from office.
This year, four of the seven board members are up for re-election to four-year terms. The superintendent is appointed, not elected.
"We're in for a fight," said Kazanjian, a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office sergeant. "We're going after their jobs. If they don't support police, police don't want to support them."
Board member Sandra Richmond, who is not up for re-election until 2010, said school police "are worth more than what we can pay them."
The school district is facing an extraordinary budget crunch, administrators say. The state Legislature cut about $17.6 million from this year's funding for county schools since October, and another $15.5 million reduction is expected from legislators meeting in Tallahassee.
"I don't think there's anyone on the board who wouldn't see fit to give them as much as we possibly can," Richmond said. "We would do more if we had it."
Board member Debra Robinson, whose term also is up in 2010, cast the lone vote against the 2 percent raise. She supported giving the police a 5 percent pay increase.
Union leaders insist the school district has the money to pay police better wages but chooses to snub the officers for other expenses, including lawsuit settlements and $4 million to de-muck land for a new Pahokee football field.
"When they want to spend the money, they spend it," said Robert Walton, a school police detective and union representative.
The union said the difference between a 2 percent raise and a 5 percent raise would cost the district $150,000.
"The rank and file are demoralized because year after year they are shown no respect," Walton said.
The union mailer lists crime statistics such as "126 drug busts and 30 sex-related crimes in our schools last year alone."
"School Board Police are struggling to stem the tide," it states.
Walton added, "It's time that everybody realizes that if it weren't for school police there would be a heck of a lot more reported crimes on school campuses."
Officials said 2 percent is consistent with what the district offered most other employee groups, except teachers, who got a 4.2 percent raise.
School Board Vice Chairwoman Paulette Bur****, who is seeking re-election this year, said she has received dozens of the union fliers in the mail.
"If money was available, I could certainly support increases for all of our employees for their professionalism and dedication to education in Palm Beach County," she said.
Marc Freeman can be reached at mjfreeman@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6642.
Fliers oppose members' re-election
By Marc Freeman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
March 6, 2008
Palm Beach County's police union is firing back at the School Board after losing a bid last month for better raises for school officers.
The Police Benevolent Association, which represents police officers countywide, recently mailed a flier to thousands of county registered voters and supporters. It accuses the School Board and Superintendent Art Johnson of "not making law enforcement protection in our schools a priority."
On Feb. 13 the board awarded a 2 percent raise to the 170-officer force, which protects more than 168,000 students, ending a negotiating impasse with the union. Officers sought 5 percent raises, but district administrators said there wasn't enough money in the budget. School police leaders say their salaries are out of line with other police agencies in Palm Beach County.
Union President John Kazanjian on Wednesday said the mailing — which cites school crime statistics — is the first shot by police in a campaign to oust some School Board members from office.
This year, four of the seven board members are up for re-election to four-year terms. The superintendent is appointed, not elected.
"We're in for a fight," said Kazanjian, a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office sergeant. "We're going after their jobs. If they don't support police, police don't want to support them."
Board member Sandra Richmond, who is not up for re-election until 2010, said school police "are worth more than what we can pay them."
The school district is facing an extraordinary budget crunch, administrators say. The state Legislature cut about $17.6 million from this year's funding for county schools since October, and another $15.5 million reduction is expected from legislators meeting in Tallahassee.
"I don't think there's anyone on the board who wouldn't see fit to give them as much as we possibly can," Richmond said. "We would do more if we had it."
Board member Debra Robinson, whose term also is up in 2010, cast the lone vote against the 2 percent raise. She supported giving the police a 5 percent pay increase.
Union leaders insist the school district has the money to pay police better wages but chooses to snub the officers for other expenses, including lawsuit settlements and $4 million to de-muck land for a new Pahokee football field.
"When they want to spend the money, they spend it," said Robert Walton, a school police detective and union representative.
The union said the difference between a 2 percent raise and a 5 percent raise would cost the district $150,000.
"The rank and file are demoralized because year after year they are shown no respect," Walton said.
The union mailer lists crime statistics such as "126 drug busts and 30 sex-related crimes in our schools last year alone."
"School Board Police are struggling to stem the tide," it states.
Walton added, "It's time that everybody realizes that if it weren't for school police there would be a heck of a lot more reported crimes on school campuses."
Officials said 2 percent is consistent with what the district offered most other employee groups, except teachers, who got a 4.2 percent raise.
School Board Vice Chairwoman Paulette Bur****, who is seeking re-election this year, said she has received dozens of the union fliers in the mail.
"If money was available, I could certainly support increases for all of our employees for their professionalism and dedication to education in Palm Beach County," she said.
Marc Freeman can be reached at mjfreeman@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6642.