A Delaware State Education Association Press Release Today Read:
Michael Katz gets nod from Delaware educators – DSEA – for 4th Senate seat
"DOVER, DE, October 22, 2008…. The Executive Board of the Delaware State Education Association has unanimously voted to recommend to its members who live in the 4th Senate District that they strongly consider casting their vote for Michael Katz (D). A team of DSEA members interviewed both candidates following submission of their questionnaires.
“Dr. Katz brings a strong combination of talents and experience to his candidacy,” praises DSEA President Diane Donohue. “As a practicing physician, he understands the complex challenges confronting our health care system as it tries desperately to find a way to insure all children in the very near future.” Donohue added that students without health care who come to school ill cannot focus on learning.
Dr. Katz understands the problems that our state health insurance program would confront if younger or healthier people were allowed to opt into lower premium/higher deductible programs, leaving a riskier population in the current program, resulting in higher costs. His opponent, John Clatworthy (R), welcomed the addition of such high deductible plans.
On pensions, Dr. Katz was firm in his support for the current defined benefit pension program, while his opponent supports an option to join a non-defined contribution system (such as a 401-K type) which would weaken the financial stability of the current system.
On compensation matters, Dr. Katz supports the continuing effort by the state to raise the salaries of Instructional and Service Aides, and increasing the starting salaries for teachers. Clatworthy, on the other hand, did not respond to this question.
On charter schools, Dr. Katz recognized the need to review the current charter school law in light of the issues that have arisen over its 13 years of operation with an eye toward making sure that our public school system provides great schools for all students, not just some. Clatworthy’s views showed full support for conduit bond financing for new charter school construction without any type of approval or accountability process."
"With 11,500 members, DSEA is a public employee union representing the public school teachers in all 19 school districts, as well as many support employee groups in 18 school districts. DSEA also represents the teachers employed by the Division of Children, Youth and their Families as well as the state's public health nurses.
DSEA is a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting and defending outstanding public education for all students; and advancing and protecting the interests of its members."
