627 replies to this topic

[tessieca]

Yes, you are missing something in your calculations. No, my comments about teachers was not political. I have personally known many teachers in this district over many years, and I personally respect most of them. You can't drag me down to your level with personal attacks.

[39 degrees]

Yes, you are missing something in your calculations. No, my comments about teachers was not political. I have personally known many teachers in this district over many years, and I personally respect most of them. You can't drag me down to your level with personal attacks.

WOW! I wasn't personally attacking you at all, nor was I trying to drag you down. I only mentioned that I was going to speak at the board meeting. I would think I won't be the only one? I can't believe you took it that way. I merely said what I thought I had heard and that was that the superintendent wanted the teachers to be in the top quartile. You have to understand that I am not the only parent to be talking about this issue. I just happened to question the teacher, rather pointedly, in order to get the facts. Maybe I didn't already reveals this, but my child's teacher never asked me to go over the numbers. I asked because I wanted to know what was going on.

Thank you, yes, I am missing something, but I don't know what. That's the point I have been trying to make. I was hoping you would shed some light on it, but you took my comments in a completely unforeseen manner. If I offended you in any manner I humbly apologize. I'll be sure to come and speak to you personally on Thursday. I hope that is permitted as I have never attended a school board meeting. My politics comment was not meant to be offensive, just an observation because you are a politician and I thought you were acting in that matter.

[tessieca]

There would be no political purpose in my stating that FCUSD teachers are intelligent and educated. It's just a fact. The superintendent outlined the basis for the numbers on the comparison charts, and you overlooked that then commented with something like "Wow, now I know what the teachers have had to put up with." I was just trying to help you out with what you were missing and the math, yet you took it as somehow trying to put one over on someone (you? teachers?). Anyway, I will pm you with my phone number and personal email address and then you can talk to me before the meeting. The board is in closed session between 5 and 6 p.m. so there is no opportunity to talk to anyone prior to the open session.

[39 degrees]

There would be no political purpose in my stating that FCUSD teachers are intelligent and educated. It's just a fact. The superintendent outlined the basis for the numbers on the comparison charts, and you overlooked that then commented with something like "Wow, now I know what the teachers have had to put up with." I was just trying to help you out with what you were missing and the math, yet you took it as somehow trying to put one over on someone (you? teachers?). Anyway, I will pm you with my phone number and personal email address and then you can talk to me before the meeting. The board is in closed session between 5 and 6 p.m. so there is no opportunity to talk to anyone prior to the open session.

Thank you for your gracious offer to personally speak with me.

Thank you

[Robert Giacometti]

For those of you who think that the teachers are at some kind of a disadvantage, I would counter that you are not giving them much credit for being the highly intelligent and educated people the district tends to hire.

My comment about the teachers being at a disadvantage implies maybe the District is doing something inappropriate with the budgeting process. That was NOT my intent.

It would be understandable that the District would prioritize their needs with the budget process. It would also seem logical if another more urgent need arose, the District would defer a lessor priority, to satisfy the more urgent priority.

The Superintendent would/should have a better understanding of the budget as they would be creating the budget, not the teachers. If a scenario like I described above occurred, I could see how some who didn't design the budget, would start to question the statement there aren't any more funds available for additional salary increases for teachers.

It would be enlightening to see what the balances were in all the accounts that might fall under the catergory of reserves for the last 5 years. This might shed some light into the debate of there being more money in the budget for salaries.

[tessieca]

I don't recall you saying that, Robert. It was either Aubie or 39degrees, and then TM70 has voiced that opinion. To anyone, I would say that Robert's healthy dose of skepticism with government is a good thing, and asking questions is a good thing. I might have those numbers somewhere, maybe just for 3 years. But, obviously 3% of a growing budget amount will increase each year, etc. Also, the amount of site carryovers varies greatly because the sites are the ones to decide what to spend this year and what to save for large purchases the next year.

[TM70]

The topic of impasse has been very hot as of late and I was happy to hear from a few people at lunch that they were happy that the superintendent was making a good salary + benefits. They were being sincere. Several teachers mentioned they could care less how much money Pat makes per year. Then someone asked, "Well...is his salary competitive with other superintendents in the area?" Another person replied that it was, "very competitive." I thought damn well should be since the position's salary went up quite a bit a few years ago.

I don't have the data for this one, but how is Pat's compensation in the local area? I mean, you know, in the same districts that the teachers are being compared to. Is he last? 9th out of 12? 5th, 6th? I don't know. I would be very curious to see where he is along with Debbie Bettencourt. I hope they are up there near the top. Or at least the top quartile. He, along with Debbie, will both have increases to their salaries based on whatever the teachers settle on for COLA, but if he is already near the top, again I don't know this, he will be way up there compared to his colleagues.

Teresa, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I am not T.R. I keep telling you...you do not know me. Just another face in the 900+.

[TM70]

I too have read every post. Its my sense the numbers the District released showing the pay scale, if the proposed raise was approved, is accurate. Its my take the teachers feel there are additional funds from the COLA that could be given to the teachers without cutting programs and its the Districts position if any additional raise is granted, then programs will need to be cut.

The teachers are in a somewhat tactical disadvantage as they need to prove that there is money available, hidden somewhere in the budget, without the advantage of preparing the budget.

What numbers is the District sending out do you feel are inaccurate and what is your source of the accurate ones? This information may be helpful to everyone.

This is where Robert made the comment, "The teachers are in a somewhat tactical disadvantage as they need to prove that there is money available, hidden somewhere in the budget, without the advantage of preparing the budget."

I corrected "tactical"

Robert has shown a healthy skepticism, which is great. We need that, but unfortunately, he, along with every other teacher in FCUSD, is at the same disadvantage. We will never get the straight answers we are looking for. It didn't happen 8 years ago, 6 years ago or 3 years ago. FCEA negotiators had to dig and I mean dig to find the answers. The district is not going to volunteer any information that will weaken their position. The teachers have played all their cards, now it's up to some "neutral" arbiter to find who is weakest and get them to settle.

Here's the thing...last time this happened 8 years ago, 90% of the teachers voted to strike...the contract was settled within a day.

Again, I do not want to strike, and I can't even remember the last time I mentioned anything near my students about this entire mess...

[tessieca]

PERB has named a mediator, so the matter is proceeding toward a hopefully quick resolution.

[aubie84alum]

PERB has named a mediator, so the matter is proceeding toward a hopefully quick resolution.

about 75 working days, unless, district offers something, anything...right to the end of school.

[aubie84alum]

I'll explain the math for those of you who don't understand the district's comparison numbers.

Step 1: Take the salary at the level(s) the district is using. Multiply current schedule by 4.65%. That will get you the numbers on the district's comparison of "Salaries Only."

Step 2: Take those enhanced salaries and add the total benefits (you can't just add the additional proposed $100 per month). Try $6,324 for a year's worth of benefits with the enhanced amount. You will get the numbers on the second chart.

For once I agree with tessica. You can't add $100 per mo. the medical cap. I would mess up the numbers. Not everyone would get that benefit, only those with dependents who currently are paying $660 per mo. The rest are SOL. In fact, the district gets to keep the rest or apply it to other monies.

[TM70]

For once I agree with tessica. You can't add $100 per mo. the medical cap. I would mess up the numbers. Not everyone would get that benefit, only those with dependents who currently are paying $660 per mo. The rest are SOL. In fact, the district gets to keep the rest or apply it to other monies.

That's what kills me about this whole comparison being floated by the district. It's all smoke and mirrors. Who really knows what it means. It won't resemble anything close to what really comes out in the end.

Look, there are a lot of you who have disagreed on many aspects of this issue and now is your chance to step up!

Support the board! Support the superintendent! Support the kids for God's sake!

Come to the March 1st board meeting(6:30 p.m. at the FHS library) and speak up! Now is your chance to stick it to those greedy, money grubbing teachers. Three minutes for you to say whatever you want, probably more if you go pro-board, so I say GO FOR IT!

See you there!

Oops, almost forgot, I do not want to strike and most of my students think Friday is lime green shirt day. It's a solidarity thing! You wouldn't understand...

[cw68]

That's what kills me about this whole comparison being floated by the district. It's all smoke and mirrors. Who really knows what it means. It won't resemble anything close to what really comes out in the end.

Look, there are a lot of you who have disagreed on many aspects of this issue and now is your chance to step up!

Support the board! Support the superintendent! Support the kids for God's sake!

Come to the March 1st board meeting(6:30 p.m. at the FHS library) and speak up! Now is your chance to stick it to those greedy, money grubbing teachers. Three minutes for you to say whatever you want, probably more if you go pro-board, so I say GO FOR IT!

See you there!

Oops, almost forgot, I do not want to strike and most of my students think Friday is lime green shirt day. It's a solidarity thing! You wouldn't understand...

Your condesending attitude bothers me. Give it up already.

[TM70]

Your condesending attitude bothers me. Give it up already.

Finally...now you know how 900+ teachers feel with this entire mess!

Yes, I wish they would give it up.

That only took 445 posts...

March 1st. 6:30 p.m. FHS library...

[cw68]

Finally...now you know how 900+ teachers feel with this entire mess!

Yes, I wish they would give it up.

That only took 445 posts...

March 1st. 6:30 p.m. FHS library...

Sorry, but your posts make me less and less supportive of the teacher's union and, therefore, the teachers. If this is your attitude in hoping to get people on your side, I sure would hate to see your attitude if you didn't want people to support you.