171 replies to this topic

[Redone]

I think this part really shows that you have to skin in this discussion to really get a grip on the nuances.


"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)?"


Most public would assume that automatic increases went away prior to cutting anything.

[JoAnne Reinking]

No mention has been made for those who don't use our benefit plan ~ in lieu of benefit pay. $210 (?) per month for 10 months. I am not aware of this being an option in the private sector or state paid positions. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Folsom Guy]

No mention has been made for those who don't use our benefit plan ~ in lieu of benefit pay. $210 (?) per month for 10 months. I am not aware of this being an option in the private sector or state paid positions. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You are correct - I do not think employees get paid for not participating in the benefits plan...

But, there had been an impression going around that FCUSD teachers had the health benefits at no cost ...and were whining about minor co-payment requirements. That myth has been busted.

[sunnyCA]

You are correct - I do not think employees get paid for not participating in the benefits plan...

But, there had been an impression going around that FCUSD teachers had the health benefits at no cost ...and were whining about minor co-payment requirements. That myth has been busted.

Sac State employees can take "flex cash" if they do not take health benefits. It is $140/month.

I don't know about other state employees but I would assume it is the same.

[Barb J]

Sac State employees can take "flex cash" if they do not take health benefits. It is $140/month.

I don't know about other state employees but I would assume it is the same.

it used to be a similar amount for State Employees - I worked for the state 6 years ago and took home a couple hundred dollars/month for not using benefits.

Does anyone know if part time teachers (job sharing) receive full benefits?

Barb

[Redone]

No mention has been made for those who don't use our benefit plan ~ in lieu of benefit pay. $210 (?) per month for 10 months. I am not aware of this being an option in the private sector or state paid positions. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Some City of Sac. depts do offer a "cafeteria plan."

[stacycam]

Sacramento County used to have an "insurance subsidy" which was a few hundred dollars per month. But, they discontinued that in.......maybe 2000. Not sure, but a while ago. Anyone who had the subsidy wouldn't lose it, unless they gave it up voluntarily (enrolling in health insurance).

IMO, that is a HUGE waste of money. Just because you don't need insurance, doesn't mean you should get paid extra. Of course, I loved getting the subsidy, but I always felt it was pretty disgusting. I'm surprised the State and school districts still have it!

[tessieca]

I think this part really shows that you have to skin in this discussion to really get a grip on the nuances.


"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)?"


Most public would assume that automatic increases went away prior to cutting anything.

This is the step and column increases that occur in most districts every year. I can get you a cost figure for next year's anticipated automatic increases. I think school districts are relatively unique in giving the automatic increases based solely on time in job (step). The column increases equate more to value since they are granted based on more education credits.

[Redone]

I don't need anything but it just shows when one side says "cut" they might mean "less raise" or whatever. Unless it's black and white, it's hard to see what's going on.

In any respect , both board members and teachers are tough jobs at the moment. Not enough money and plenty of state regulations saying what to do with the money you have.
No winners.

[sckfc]

No mention has been made for those who don't use our benefit plan ~ in lieu of benefit pay. $210 (?) per month for 10 months. I am not aware of this being an option in the private sector or state paid positions. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I got $150 per month with Sprint.

[JoAnne Reinking]

With all due respect to our FCEA members ~ voting on the T/A has
started. Please put what is best for our students ( and fellow colleagues) first. Let's do better than this (3) day agreement. If you truly believe relief
will come in the form of federal $$ ~ let's work together at the table afterward
to eliminate furlough days instead of reinstating jobs.

Sincerely

[mac_convert]

I said I was out of commenting on this thread, but I have to now.

It would be lovely to have some federal aid but I don't know how likely money will actually get distributed to FCUSD. There are a lot of hands who reach into the pot before FCUSD can! I would rather have the money we would get back go towards reinstating jobs than restoring furlough days. I don't know many were RIF'd but I'd like people's jobs restored before I earn back my 1.5% decrease in pay. I know to some teachers the 1.5% is a hardship but I've lived without it this year, why not one more?

With all due respect to our FCEA members ~ voting on the T/A has
started. Please put what is best for our students first. I believe we
can do better than this (3) day agreement. If you truly believe relief
will come in the form of federal $$ ~ let's work together at the table afterward
to eliminate furlough days instead of reinstating jobs.

Sincerely

[rightwingknot]

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!

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

What did Elk Grove teachers give up last year? Also, as a percentage of the total budget, how does their deficit compare to Folsom Cordova's? Just curious.

[JoAnne Reinking]

What did Elk Grove teachers give up last year? Also, as a percentage of the total budget, how does their deficit compare to Folsom Cordova's? Just curious.

Elk Grove gave (2) days this year to save counselors.

[bordercolliefan]

Maybe all this "giving up days" is the least-bad of bad choices, but I think we should bear in mind that there is a real problem with having kids in school fewer and fewer days. Teachers already say they don't have enough time to cram in all the material required by the STAR tests. In terms of global competitiveness, at 180 days our kids already had one of the shortest school years in the industrialized world, and now we are making it even shorter.

Though I do like smaller class sizes, I'm pretty sure the research shows that more days in school is more beneficial to students than smaller class sizes (which generally do not lead to measureable gains, from the research I've seen).

If we must accept fewer and fewer school days, then if the teachers really care about our kids, I think they should be thinking about ways to ameliorate that situation. Why not send home packets of recommended work for the summer? (Parents could pay a few $$ for copying). Personally, I plan to give my kids some schoolwork over the summer, but now that they are in higher grades, I'm not totally sure what math concepts are most appropriate for review/study. The teachers could really help in that regard.