Last Wednesday the Vermont House Government Operations Commitee put out a proposal that seriously damages the retirement systems of Vermont public-school teachers and State workers. As a result of government under-funding over time, the pension systems do not have enough money in them to cover all of their future responsibilities. So now the house has released a proposal that fixes the problem on the backs of the workers. Teachers and state workers have paid every penny required into the system, but the government has not. But now workers will work longer, pay more, and get less.

Many teachers (especially younger teachers who see flexibility in their planning) are wondering if it is time to leave the profession. Others (older ones. generally) feel stuck, or sad, or confused.

ACSD teachers would like to invite you to join them in rallying to say "no" to these proposed changes, and to join in pushing our legislators to go back and look at the issue with more openness to the array of alternate approaches that are actually on the table. Real options, not pie-in -the-sky stuff, exist. Teachers have always paid every penny, and most teachers are just stunned that our legislators would be so harsh, right now, especially while we are teaching in a pandemic. It's deeply confusing and wounding for so many.

So come join your ACSD teachers this Tuesday, March 30th, from 3:30-4:30 (and probably later than that) along Court Street, right on the north side of the intersection with Charles Ave. Just park at the school and walk over! Rallyers will be social distancing and taking proper covid precautions.