The Kokomo way

Teacher salaries are believed to be a major sticking point in Fort Wayne Community Schools efforts to cut $15 million from the budget, even if giving up raises and step increases would save a certain number of teachers' jobs. But they seem to have gotten over that hump in Kokomo:

All Kokomo-Center Schools employees will share the pain in the 2010-2011 school year in agreements that were approved by the board of school trustees Monday, because of state budget cuts.

In a special meeting, the board approved that there will be no salary or increment increases for teachers, administrators and classified staff groups.

This agreement will save about 12 teachers jobs, said Cheryl Simmons, president of the Kokomo Teachers Association.

If they can share the pain in Kokomo, surely we can find a way to do it here. Employees there are also going to be contributing more to their insurance plans, the number of paid holidays is being reduced and some extra-curicular positions are being eliminated.