171 replies to this topic

[sckfc]

I'm not familiar with this. Thus fair I haven't really heard what the teachers have given up. Can you please explain?

What have our teachers given up? Three days? 1.6 % of their pay? Compare that to the tentative agreement made with Elk Grove yesterday. I don't think that our teachers have given up more than other districts teachers have. They also have not given up what our state employees or many people working in the private sector have. When there is no money, a company lets employees go, reduces their pay, freezes hiring and/or freezes hiring. The school districts have to do the same. Why should they be exempt from taking action to save jobs and services to students?

[supermom]

What have our teachers given up? Three days? 1.6 % of their pay? Compare that to the tentative agreement made with Elk Grove yesterday. I don't think that our teachers have given up more than other districts teachers have. They also have not given up what our state employees and local federal employees; or many people working in the private sector have. When there is no money, a company lets employees go, reduces their pay, freezes hiring and/or freezes benefits. The school districts have to do the same. Why should they be exempt from taking action to save jobs by reducing services to students? Or by refusing to assist at risk of failure students-for fear of losing their "not left behind" ratings?

Hope you don't mind--I kinda tweaked your message to clarify a few points, a little.

[stacycam]

What have our teachers given up? Three days? 1.6 % of their pay? Compare that to the tentative agreement made with Elk Grove yesterday. I don't think that our teachers have given up more than other districts teachers have. They also have not given up what our state employees or many people working in the private sector have. When there is no money, a company lets employees go, reduces their pay, freezes hiring and/or freezes hiring. The school districts have to do the same. Why should they be exempt from taking action to save jobs and services to students?

I was hoping to get an answer to my question from the teachers, specifically "teach". This person implies our teachers have sacrificed so much, and I'd really like to know what they have actually "given up."

[tessieca]

Might want to check the MOU again [Appendix E-4, signed 5/7/10]. The 3 days appear to be student days.

The agreement throughout talks about a reduction in the teachers' work year. Then, I see that there is that one reference in the fourth Exhibit that reduces the student's days. Sooner: keep in mind that neither the teachers nor the board have ratified the agreement yet. It can still make more sense to some of us that we might take the days off from the non-student days than decrease the student's time in school. With agreements like in EGUSD they have to do both -- lucky them!

Teachers are getting some very unfair blame. It's not our fault that middle school electives were cut. I think it's sad that our Superintendent chose to vilify teachers. If you look around at other districts then you'll see our teachers have given up more than most!

You might want to look at some really sizeable districts to see that other teachers' associations around the state are taking substantially more days, in addition to freezing step and column automatic increases. Elk Grove is just the latest.

I paid for the classes, I did the work, I pay for supplies (even $200 for a year's subscription to brainpop.com), my pay was decreased by $140 per month, this year and I don't work on the Folsom side of the district, although I have. The Rancho side suffers the slings and arrows of outragous fortune, comparatively.

Question: I assume the $140 decrease you're referencing is from the furlough days taken for 09-10.

Was that before or after you received the automatic increase(s)?

FYI, RC has the same pay scale and benefits that Folsom does. The district does not differentiate between areas when hiring and assigning staff.

One more note: With 9 furlough days and column freeze, Elk Grove is still only able to rescind 2/3 of their layoff notices.

[Howdy]

It is difficult at times teaching in Folsom

What makes it difficult in Folsom? All the parent involvement in the classrooms? Them telling you how to teach? Have you ever taught in Del Paso Heights? You ought to be thankful you are in Folsom.

[tessieca]

The secretary to the Superintendent makes 50% more than the highest paid teacher. Why on earth is she making $122,000? Before you blame teachers, come into our rooms and see how busy we are, and then walk up to the district office and look around.

Thanks, JoAnne for letting people know that the position was changed and will save money. I want to also clarify that the position as it has been constituted has NEVER been at the rate indicated by this poster. I'm not sure where they got that incorrect information. The salary schedules are posted at http://www.fcusd.org..._department.htm.

[sckfc]

Hope you don't mind--I kinda tweaked your message to clarify a few points, a little.

I don't mind at all. Thank you.

[normajean]

neighbor and in law both teach in the fcusd district. they both claim they pay $1000 per month currently for health insurance for their families, as part of their "benefit package" provided throught the district!!!! have heard that monthly payment is going up to $1150 over the summer.......that's just crazy to me, especially when we, the general public, think that teachers aren't taking enough of a hit......just sayin....

[The Average Joe]

neighbor and in law both teach in the fcusd district. they both claim they pay $1000 per month currently for health insurance for their families, as part of their "benefit package" provided throught the district!!!! have heard that monthly payment is going up to $1150 over the summer.......that's just crazy to me, especially when we, the general public, think that teachers aren't taking enough of a hit......just sayin....

My bs detector is going crazy...I would like some more details of this...

[marywegan]

My bs detector is going crazy...I would like some more details of this...

This is true. I paid $977 a month for my husband and I this past year. The new rate is $1,155 a month for Health Net HMO. Dental will be about $100 more a month for us. I could go with Kaiser that would be about $780- to $970 a month depending on which option.
We, or I should say the union, bargained away our benefits years ago.
After taxes, retirement, and every other deduction, my check is about $3,800 a month. You know I am not teaching for the money.
Before the school board member that does not like teachers says anything, I am not complaining. You asked for facts. You can also go on the website and see the rate schedule. I love my job and I love being a teacher. I am very proud of my school and my students. I have taught in this district so long that I have been through 5 or 6 supes who have made their changes and moved merrily along. I bet I am also here longer than the current one.

Ask more questions. Ask how much admin pays monthly for their medical coverage. Ask how much retired admin. pay monthly for continued coverage. Ask. Make someone tell you.
Hey, also ask them to come and look at the condition of my classroom desk so they can have that decrepit image in their minds as they order all the new furniture for the new district office. Maybe I can have their "old" furniture.

[tessieca]

Before the school board member that does not like teachers says anything, I am not complaining. You asked for facts.

If you are referring to me, I would just say that I LOVE teachers who teach. I LOVE teachers who act like adults and don't whine. I LOVE teachers who are professionals and inspire children. I could not do what teachers do! I LOVE most of you.

Fact for most of us is that insurance rates are increasing. I get health insurance for our family through my business, and the rates for an 80/20 with major deductible is still around $600 per month. We pay, pay, and pay for health insurance and uncovered costs. It's a fact of life in tihs U.S.

[keyplayer]

I finally brought my own chair, I was so tired of the tipping from the broken leg.

You can't generalize from district to district about pay and benefits, it is different for each district and each group, certificated, non certificated and admin. I am happy with my pay, the benefits are much more expensive than my husbands with Intel so the kids are on his and I love my job most of the time. Please don't confuse our benefits with Sac City or other districts.

[JockeyOffer]

This is true. I paid $977 a month for my husband and I this past year. The new rate is $1,155 a month for Health Net HMO. Dental will be about $100 more a month for us. I could go with Kaiser that would be about $780- to $970 a month depending on which option.
We, or I should say the union, bargained away our benefits years ago.
After taxes, retirement, and every other deduction, my check is about $3,800 a month. You know I am not teaching for the money.
Before the school board member that does not like teachers says anything, I am not complaining. You asked for facts. You can also go on the website and see the rate schedule. I love my job and I love being a teacher. I am very proud of my school and my students. I have taught in this district so long that I have been through 5 or 6 supes who have made their changes and moved merrily along. I bet I am also here longer than the current one.

Ask more questions. Ask how much admin pays monthly for their medical coverage. Ask how much retired admin. pay monthly for continued coverage. Ask. Make someone tell you.
Hey, also ask them to come and look at the condition of my classroom desk so they can have that decrepit image in their minds as they order all the new furniture for the new district office. Maybe I can have their "old" furniture.

All completely true! Yes, teachers continue to take HUGE hits. Yes, we are grateful for jobs, yes, we are grateful for benefits, etc, etc. However...consider this: in the coming 2010-2011 year we'll see benefits costs at over $1000/month (depending on family size and chosen coverage) AND most likely at least 30 kids in each class (after many years of class size reduction and one year of approximately 24-25.) This last item is what TRULY WORRIES me. Effective teachers will adjust accordingly, but contact time with each individual child, one-on-one teaching time that is EVER SO IMPORTANT will greatly diminish. As a FCUSD union member - I would do just about ANYTHING to keep class size reduction, were it even offered as an option. Grades 1 and 2 as we know them in Folsom Cordova are about to completely change, and definitely NOT for the better. I would be interested in seeing an academic comparison study (you know someone will do one) on 20:1 students vs. those that will now be in 30:1. We shall see.

[stacycam]

I would do just about ANYTHING to keep class size reduction, were it even offered as an option.

Do you mean it's not offered as an option because the union doesn't want it to be? Because it looked to me that if the teachers were willing to furlough 6 days instead of 3, that could save semi-CSR (not what we used to have, but what we have now).

Sigh. This whole thing sucks - for everyone.

[mac_convert]

The district negotiators would not 100% say that the extra three days would be going to CSR or any other jobs being lost. I am not privy to the negotiating that happened so of course my information isn't first hand info!

I'll continue to follow this thread, but I'm done for now since anything I can add will not change anything. We are in an economic crisis because our state legislators have put us in this position. It is not the district's fault, teachers fault, etc.

I am glad to teach. I am glad I have a job. I am not under paid, but I am certainly NOT over paid either. I will do my best with the extra students next year. The children will learn, but maybe not as fast or as much. Some of the fun art projects might be slashed or reduced because of the extra kids and less room to work.

Thanks for those who support teachers because we love and need your support!

Do you mean it's not offered as an option because the union doesn't want it to be? Because it looked to me that if the teachers were willing to furlough 6 days instead of 3, that could save semi-CSR (not what we used to have, but what we have now).

Sigh. This whole thing sucks - for everyone.