627 replies to this topic

[sanmateo60]

The difference between the district's offer and the union's proposal is $1.4 million dollars. Robert is correct that there will need to be cuts if the teachers receive the amount they are currently demanding. Since FCUSD is mostly people, most of the cuts would come from decrease or elimination of staff . . . somewhere.
I'd have to say you're wrong when you're talking about school districts. (Even private companies don't do it that way, but that's for another discussion.) When deciding how much to give to teachers or other district employees, there is a comparison with other competitors for those positions. That's why you see the charts comparing teacher salaries, or why the district does a salary survey of school secretaries, custodians, etc., from time to time. The % increase for these groups is decided based on what the district can afford and what it requires to attract and keep good employees. In the instant example, the district believes it can attract and retain good teachers with its current offer and a commitment to continue improving benefits, without requiring cuts to other staff and programs. The teachers disagree (on both aspects). On to mediation . . .

Tessieca, maybe you can help me out with a few answers so I can see if the uinions information is factual. What is the superintendents salary? How many associate superintendents are there and what are their salaries? How do their salaries compare with neighboring districts. What is the districts current reserve and how does that compare with state mandates?
Thanks

[dan76]

I think they are taking an annual salary and dividing it by the number of months an average teacher works. Then, it is annualized to come up with the salary one would get if they were to work all year. It's not fuzzy, it's just another way of looking at it.

The only problem is we have to deal in reality. At the end of the year $40k is still $40K. It doesn't magically grow to $53K. Its like trying to tell someone its raining when you are actually pissing on their back.

[dan76]

I should care when I pay their salaries through taxes. Why should I be apathetic.

Gotcha...you would rather not pay teachers more through your taxes, who are providing an actual service to your community and teaching your children. But have no problem supporting illegal aliens with healthcare and handouts every month through your taxes.

[cw68]

The only problem is we have to deal in reality. At the end of the year $40k is still $40K. It doesn't magically grow to $53K. Its like trying to tell someone its raining when you are actually pissing on their back.

No, they are saying that if they worked a job 12 months out of the year at $40k per nine months, the annual salary would be $53k. It's not fuzzy, it's not pissing on their back.

[Chad Vander Veen]

Wow, this is a long thread.

/why am I posting this?

[Jolene]

Wow, this is a long thread.

/why am I posting this?

To pad your post count, of course! You apparently didn't read all of the posts, or you would have seen that.

[Chad Vander Veen]

To pad your post count, of course! You apparently didn't read all of the posts, or you would have seen that.

You're right, I did not read all 427 posts

[tessieca]

Sanmateo: I'll answer what I know off the top of my head. Our superintendent makes $180,000 per year. The only other supt. salary I know off the top of my head is Sac. City's at $230,000 per year. The assistant superintendent's have a salary schedule much like the teachers (they are certificated as well), and they would fall at different places on the schedule. Go to www.fcusd.org, then to Human Resources and then to Administrative Salaries. Their schedule has not been adjusted by the 5.25% yet either.

With respect to the reserves, I already posted a full explanation several pages back. The reserve does not exceed the 3% required by state law (sorry, Robert). What some people are trying to call reserves actually includes the entire ending balance of the general fund, the amounts in which are dictated by law, reviewed by the county, and audited each year.

"Per SACS, the General Fund Ending Balance includes the following components. These components reflect the funds determined to be available as of June 30, the end of the school financial year.

" A three percent reserve
o All CA public school districts are required to maintain a three percent reserve for contingencies. If the reserve is used in a given year, it must be re-established in the next year.
" A revolving cash fund
o The Revolving Cash Fund is used for quick payments to vendors or employees. For example, districts often need quick cash for late timesheets, last minute vendor payments, or emergency supplies. The FCUSD maintains $75,000 in its revolving cash fund.
" Site and department carry-over
o In the FCUSD, schools sites and departments are allowed to carry over some funds from one year to the next. This allows sites and departments to save for large purchases that cannot be made from the annual site or department budget.
" Legally restricted categorical funds
o The District receives some funds that can only be expended for specific categories. If the funds are not spent by the end of the year, they are identified as restricted categorical funds, but SACS requires that they be listed as a part of the Ending Fund Balance.
" Local grants and donations
o Local corporations provide some grants and donations that are not entirely spent during the year. The grants must be spent for the specified purpose, but SACS requires that they be included in the General Fund Ending Balance.
" Undesignated amount
o These are funds that are remaining at the end of the year that can be used at the discretion of the Governing Board. It is important to note that these funds are one-time funds, and are not ongoing. For 2005-06, this portion of the Ending Balance has been designated for employee compensation enhancements.

For the 2005-06 school year, the FCUSD's General Fund Ending Balance included:

State mandated three percent reserve $4,050,000
Revolving cash fund $ 75,000
Site and department carry over $5,209,318
Legally restricted categorical funds $3,154,266
Local grant and donations $ 555,572
Undesignated $2,269,701

The ending balance 2005-06 totals $15,313,857 or 12.6%"

===========================================================
If they were to spend more than is available without making cuts, the money would be taken out of the $4,050,000, which would put the district in a position of being watched for a possible state takeover.

[TM70]

Take all numbers with a grain of salt. Remember our $100 hammer and $300 toilet seat. The last high school cost 1-2 times more than comparable high schools built at the same time. Those high school kids just trashed a lot of the expensive stuff that was purchased...

Also, neglected the superintendents car allowance of $5K a year and medical benefits....also, he takes advantage or disadvantage of the COLA as well. She didn't show his numbers after the COLA.

See, this is what I am talking about. Teacher salaries are shown AFTER the COLA for comparison, the supers salary is shown BEFORE COLA...Wonder what his medical benefits are?

[tessieca]

Your hypothetical hammers and toilet seats don't add anything to the discussion. Folsom High School, if that's what you are referring to, was built for a larger number of students and had land costs (cost of doing business in Folsom) that were higher as well. In any event, nothing came out of the general fund to build the high school, nothing comes out of salaries to construct facilities. And, even if they did, I don't suppose you are suggesting that we cram more kids into smaller spaces in order to grant a bigger raise. I don't know anything about high school kids trashing expensive equipment -- another red herring I suppose.

Mr. Godwin has not received a raise since he has been with the district, including a COLA. That will be resolved after there is agreement with the bargaining units. If one were to believe that 6.94% were a fair COLA certainly you would also promote applying that to all employees. People are stating that the Superintendent received a raise. He has not. That is a fact, that is not a comparison.

[sanmateo60]

Your hypothetical hammers and toilet seats don't add anything to the discussion. Folsom High School, if that's what you are referring to, was built for a larger number of students and had land costs (cost of doing business in Folsom) that were higher as well. In any event, nothing came out of the general fund to build the high school, nothing comes out of salaries to construct facilities. And, even if they did, I don't suppose you are suggesting that we cram more kids into smaller spaces in order to grant a bigger raise. I don't know anything about high school kids trashing expensive equipment -- another red herring I suppose.

Mr. Godwin has not received a raise since he has been with the district, including a COLA. That will be resolved after there is agreement with the bargaining units. If one were to believe that 6.94% were a fair COLA certainly you would also promote applying that to all employees. People are stating that the Superintendent received a raise. He has not. That is a fact, that is not a comparison.

Mr. Godwin hasn't received a raise, but the superintendent's position did in order to recruit a qualified candidate. Also, Ms. Bettencourt received a raise to retain a qualified employee. Is it true Mr. Godwin will receive the same increase as the teachers?

[TM70]

Your hypothetical hammers and toilet seats don't add anything to the discussion. Folsom High School, if that's what you are referring to, was built for a larger number of students and had land costs (cost of doing business in Folsom) that were higher as well. In any event, nothing came out of the general fund to build the high school, nothing comes out of salaries to construct facilities. And, even if they did, I don't suppose you are suggesting that we cram more kids into smaller spaces in order to grant a bigger raise. I don't know anything about high school kids trashing expensive equipment -- another red herring I suppose.

Mr. Godwin has not received a raise since he has been with the district, including a COLA. That will be resolved after there is agreement with the bargaining units. If one were to believe that 6.94% were a fair COLA certainly you would also promote applying that to all employees. People are stating that the Superintendent received a raise. He has not. That is a fact, that is not a comparison.

Ask the custodians why they had to take all the bathroom stall doors off. Anyway, not a red herring, general fund money can be spent on ANYTHING. High school toilet seats if need be I guess. Not the other way around with the construction money.

$100 hammers adds all I need. You are jacking up other parts of the budget that will never be spent, just holding the money for whatever the agenda is. Obviously not employees. Look, here we have to disagree. You will never win me over and I will never win you over. The teachers I have spoken too, and you know who I'm talking about, B.H. and S.K., know their stuff. Remember they are the ones who negotiated the last two contracts and did a great job for us. I knew you guys would be licking your chops with our green negotiators, but we may surprise you...

You can twist the numbers and play semantics all you want. PG makes a pretty good salary for his work, but that is neither here nor there, I was only talking about how you PRESENTED the numbers and you know it. I'm sure people like Robert G. will see that. I could care less how much he makes. Some teachers make comments like, "Maybe he should pay for the COLA." Those kinds of comments are silly and most of us just roll our eyes at it...

There are four groups of people here...

1) your buddies, and that's fine, who stick up for one another through thick and thin. cw, doc, ginger, mylo, etc...I've read some of your other posts on other threads. It's O.K. you're all friends, but you are not being objective. We're all human...

2) people like Robert who are trying to have a real discussion, but all of the S flying makes it hard.

3)passionate teachers and supporters, granted some are overboard at times, me too. Our frustration sometimes gets the best of us.

4) dan76

again...I do not not want to go on strike, and I do not talk to my students about this. Wore my greens today and not one kid said a word to me. It's about solidarity now...

[TM70]

Mr. Godwin hasn't received a raise, but the superintendent's position did in order to recruit a qualified candidate. Also, Ms. Bettencourt received a raise to retain a qualified employee. Is it true Mr. Godwin will receive the same increase as the teachers?

Everyone can see she is playing semantics here. It's extremely transparent...

Again, I don't want to strike and no students discussed this issue with me.

Yes, he will get COLA too, but remember he has his informal group of supers who vowed to keep the COLA at or below 5.25%

[tessieca]

I really don't know which people you're talking about, but it makes me wonder if you can be found in Room 17. I suspect I know you, yet you keep the protective veil of anonymity. That's okay. I think people should be able to express themselves anonymously without getting heat. I will say that nobody has ever hurrah'd about anyone being "green" nor has anyone suggested that the district could or should try to put something over on its employees.

As far as people here being my "buddies," I do like the ones I've met, but I don't know most of them. Since I probably know you, you may be more of a "buddy" than they are. When this blows over, I'll buy you lunch or something, Starbucks before school.

With respect to salaries, every employee receives a raise each year. The different groups settle at different times, and usually the administrators trail the bargaining units so that administrators and management don't receive any increases until the rest of the staff does. This includes district level staff, but as I think you are agreeing, even getting rid of the superintendent altogether wouldn't fund too much in salary.

Really, this is not an us against them. It truly pains me that people take that attitude. It's simply a matter of trying to balance resources against priorities, and teaching is a major priority but not the only one.

[mylo]

If I demand a 6% payrise, will you buy me coffee too?