Agree that counting pencils would not be time well spent. Time well spent might
be, however, understanding those fixed costs and either challenging or
supporting them. Too many get off the hook by stating the "fixed cost" verbage.
Let's look at them for the entire city, not just the teachers, and make that
decision as politically difficult as it might be. From there we can move on -
fight 'em or support 'em, and figure out how.