Last Wednesday night, Antonio Del Buono Elementary School celebrated its 10 year anniversary (where Mrs. Rengerz has taught since the beginning). I was particularly proud of her since she was one of the major organizers assigned to oversee this whole gala event.

The first principal, Mrs. Midtgaard, was in attendance, the Mayor of Gilroy was there, the Superintendent, Board Members, and staff past and present were all on hand. Everyone had a great time, and the evening concluded with 85 violin students serenading the crowded auditorium under the impeccable direction of Lori Franke.

The very next day, still in the glow of a successful event, Mrs. Rengerz attended a packed boardroom meeting at the Gilroy Unified School District. The topic? Cutting 6.5 million from the district’s state school budget.

Emotions, as you might imagine, ran extremely high, but none more so than over the proposed firing of 77 teachers.

“How much will the district be saving by axing 77 teachers’ salaries?” I asked.

$1.5 million.

I repeat, that’s 77 teachers. Seventy-seven educated classroom teachers. $1.5 million. Really. Are you kidding me.

The average NBA salary per year for one player: $5.356 million.

We’re not talking LeBron James, here. This is the player that sits down on the end of the bench and ties his shoelaces for forty-eight minutes. Seriously. Some of these guys go entire NBA seasons without logging a single minute of game time. And one quarter of their salary could pay the salary of 77 working professional teachers (most of whom have MA’s in Education).

1 pine-riding, just signed from the D-League, NBA player’s salary = 275 teachers’ salaries.

Done.