Classified Employees Deserve Better

* I was at the Orange school board meeting where the board voted to lay off classified employees and cut their benefits, and I was shocked by the complete disregard for our district’s hard-working employees exhibited by the board. I was at the meeting for another reason, and the confrontation came as a big surprise to me. An even bigger surprise was the board’s lack of interest in compromising with the men and women who have devoted their lives to the education of our children.

One woman who has been working for the district since 1967 stood up and spoke. She had been working for the district for 27 years and was being treated like dirt by men and women elected to the board less than half a year ago. Appalling.

Equally appalling is the fact that The Times did not see fit to write an article about this meeting until nearly two weeks after the fact. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect your newspaper to provide citizens with timely local news.

JILL OTANO

Orange