627 replies to this topic

[Orangetj]

Good posts, 39 Degrees.

Completely apart from the argument as to whether FCUSD teachers should get more of an increase than they've been offered, I do believe there is a general misconception that private schools hire better qualified teachers and pay them better as well. I'm sure that there are some private schools operating this way, but that sure wasn't what I saw when I graduated from college and considered becoming a teacher. The private schools hiring at that time did not require any credentials beyond a Bachelor's degree and were offering starting pay of just over $22K vs. the $28.5K being offered at area public schools.

[tessieca]

A new study NCES Report shows that out of those teachers who leave the profession early in their career, only 16% do so because of salary. Even more interesting, 29% move on to other educational positions (such as principals or other areas in education that do not involve teaching). For those of you keeping score with public/private, over 40% of the "leavers" in private teaching leave because of the salaries.

[brocante]

tessica, are you banana?

[39 degrees]

tessica, are you banana?

I was thinking the same thing after reading through all of the posts. It took me a while, the deleted posts didn't help with understanding the entire thread, but it's possible.

tessica, is that true? Are you Teresa Stanley, school board member/president? If so, you seem to be a pretty high profile person to be discussing this matter when the school district is working with the teachers.

I hope we are able to retain the teachers at our school. My children would be very sad if their teacher left. Salary or otherwise. It would be a shame if any of them decided to leave.

Teresa, if money was not a problem with the budget would you be in favor of giving the teachers more money? It just seems like you are not advocating for or against them.

[cw68]

tessica, are you banana?

Tessieca is not banana.

[39 degrees]

Tessieca is not banana.

Moderator, how do I put a quote or saying at the bottom of my posts? I would like to add something too.

[cw68]

Moderator, how do I put a quote or saying at the bottom of my posts? I would like to add something too.

Go to "My Control" and "Edit Signature"

[tessieca]

Teresa, if money was not a problem with the budget would you be in favor of giving the teachers more money? It just seems like you are not advocating for or against them.

I have been called many things, but never "Banana." Banana seems to be a school privatization proponent, and I've never jumped on that bandwagon. Frankly, our posts don't sound anything alike.

If money were not an issue, and the district didn't have to balance teacher salaries with other things that benefit kids, of course I would be in favor of improving the compensation package more. But money is an issue, and I am not in favor of making cuts when the district can remain competitive without cutting things. Salaries ARE competitive. Benefits are not. It takes two sides to reach an agreement, though, and if both salaries and benefits can't be greatly enhanced without making cuts elsewhere, then negotiators need to work together to try to create a package that helps employees but doesn't hurt students.

[gorilla]

bananas are meant to be eaten, not heard.

[39 degrees]

I have been called many things, but never "Banana." Banana seems to be a school privatization proponent, and I've never jumped on that bandwagon. Frankly, our posts don't sound anything alike.

Sorry, sometimes people do that on forums. But, my friends assure me that you are the school board president. That's good enough for me.

If money were not an issue, and the district didn't have to balance teacher salaries with other things that benefit kids, of course I would be in favor of improving the compensation package more.

Good, I'm happy to hear you say that. I noticed here that you used the words "compensation package" indicating that the teachers salaries and benefits go hand in hand.

But money is an issue, and I am not in favor of making cuts when the district can remain competitive without cutting things. Salaries ARE competitive. Benefits are not.

Here is where you lost me. If what I am reading from the teachers is accurate, and I can't say one way or the other for sure, but if you add their salaries and benefits together, they are last in the local region. Please explain to me, as a parent of a Folsom student, how that can be seen as competitive. I'm not an expert, but are teachers in the local region being paid exorbitantly? So much so that last is good enough for my child's teacher?

Also, I am confused when you stated, "Salaries ARE competitive. Benefits are not." Correct me if I am wrong, but if you don't pay more of the benefits for the teachers, doesn't that difference come right out of their salaries? Aren't they really the same thing? For example, if the district pays a teacher, with a fair amount of experience, a salary of $48,000 or $4,000 a month and benefits of $400 for a medical package that costs the teacher about $600 out of pocket a month or a $1,000 a month, isn't that the same as paying the same teacher in another district $50,400 or $4,200 a month and benefits of $200 for a medical package that costs the teacher about $800 out of pocket a month or $1,000 a month? Help me, I am not seeing the difference.

It takes two sides to reach an agreement, though, and if both salaries and benefits can't be greatly enhanced without making cuts elsewhere, then negotiators need to work together to try to create a package that helps employees but doesn't hurt students.

I whole-heartedly agree! My children are the most important thing to me. I guess that is why I am writing all of this. If my child's teacher is concerned about their contract then I as a parent am concerned as well. I don't want them walking around and picketing. I want them thinking either about resting themselves for the next day or thinking about the kids.

I don't have all of the information, but how many offers has the district made to the teachers? I was told one. The two sides do need to negotiate. I was told the teachers have come up with more than one offer. Isn't their some middle ground here to move the process on or is it a stalemate? That concerns me the most.

Is anyone here really concerned about this or am I just wasting my typing?

[tessieca]

Sigh! It sure would be nice to have this conversation with a bunch of people at the same time instead of one-to-one, over and over again. It seems like every time a new person finds the forum, the same questions are rehashed. Maybe I'll write an article for the local paper(s).

Salaries have been enhanced over the past several years instead of much $$ being added to the benefits cap. (Remember that two-sided agreement thing. This was a joint decision and it's as much the fault of each side that benefits are not as competitive as salaries.) Salaries are quite competitive. Benefits are quite competitive with the private sector, but not with surrounding districts. A couple of things are happening this year with benefits: 1) CTA is aiming at them, so they have become a point of contention in bargaining, 2) the district understands the desire to improve benefits but disagrees that a situation that has taken years in the making can be repaired in one year, and 3) surrounding districts are reversing their benefits trends and negotiating downwards.

I do not wish to address negotiations strategies -- that could get me into trouble if perceived as an unfair labor practice. Negotiations are done behind closed doors, and each side has reasons for positions they take when attempting to resolve issues. What is pertinent and may be published is that the district has offered 5.25% to both of its bargaining units (teachers and non-teaching staff such as school secretaries, custodians, etc.). That would include enhancements to either salaries and/or benefits. This is the amount that does not require any budget cuts.

[39 degrees]

Sigh! It sure would be nice to have this conversation with a bunch of people at the same time instead of one-to-one, over and over again. It seems like every time a new person finds the forum, the same questions are rehashed. Maybe I'll write an article for the local paper(s).

Salaries have been enhanced over the past several years instead of much $$ being added to the benefits cap. (Remember that two-sided agreement thing. This was a joint decision and it's as much the fault of each side that benefits are not as competitive as salaries.) Salaries are quite competitive. Benefits are quite competitive with the private sector, but not with surrounding districts. A couple of things are happening this year with benefits: 1) CTA is aiming at them, so they have become a point of contention in bargaining, 2) the district understands the desire to improve benefits but disagrees that a situation that has taken years in the making can be repaired in one year, and 3) surrounding districts are reversing their benefits trends and negotiating downwards.

I do not wish to address negotiations strategies -- that could get me into trouble if perceived as an unfair labor practice. Negotiations are done behind closed doors, and each side has reasons for positions they take when attempting to resolve issues. What is pertinent and may be published is that the district has offered 5.25% to both of its bargaining units (teachers and non-teaching staff such as school secretaries, custodians, etc.). That would include enhancements to either salaries and/or benefits. This is the amount that does not require any budget cuts.

Thank you for your response.

[tessieca]

I didn't mean to put you off 39degrees. BTW, are you from Aspen? I believe that's 39 degrees north.

[SandPebble]

You are not wasting your time. I was thinking that other teachers would fill in on the boards to keep us update. But I am surprised that the interest in getting the word out about the contract negotiations has vanished now that TM70 deleted and ran. I heard there is a protest tomorrow, does anyone know about that? If so please post.

Is anyone here really concerned about this or am I just wasting my typing?

[Steve Heard]

tessica, are you banana?

Did you forget to put an 's' on the end, or did you mean to ask if she is the myfolsom.com member that goes by the name of banana?

Although she might be bananas, she's not banana.