9/6/13 - Howell teachers protested peacefully in front of school board member Mike Moloneyâs home Friday evening to bring awareness to the fact they are still without a contract. Carrying signs that read âteachers deserve a fair contract, not more Moloney baloneyâ and âMoloney works for Lansing not Howellâ, about a dozen teachers gathered outside of Moloneyâs home. He was not home at the time of the protest, which was still underway as of 7pm Friday. Teachers said the intent was to let him know that they will go public with their displeasure of his politics and unfair tactics. The Howell Education Association feels a responsible contract was offered up to the board in March, but rejected by Moloney, Deborah McCormick and Doug Moore to satisfy a political agenda, a move the union says has cost the district $500,000 in savings. Teachers told WHMI it was mean-spirited to vote down a healthcare plan that would have cost the district nothing, especially with so many teachers struggling. One said the fact that Moloney wasnât home did not surprise her in the least since he doesn't even make eye contact at board meetings. Those gathered indicated that there will be more public displays of displeasure because teachers deserve a fair and equitable contract and some board members need to stop playing politics with their paychecks. For his part, Moloney earlier called the planned protest a standard tactic from the MEA playbook, adding that, âbullying tactics like this don't change the numbersâ and the need for a responsible contract hasn't changed. (JM)
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