tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post7447817239031912869..comments2023-06-24T10:52:34.846-04:00Comments on EducateHilliard.com: It’s For the Kids, Right?Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-61999535723536145592009-05-30T03:27:44.203-04:002009-05-30T03:27:44.203-04:00I have minions? Do they cut grass or what?
Rick,...I have minions? Do they cut grass or what?<br /><br />Rick, once again, you miss the point. And you fail to even see where people agree with you.<br /><br />If all you got from my post was that I somehow support continued growth in expenditures, then I can't help you friend.<br /><br />Trust me, the dialogue I have had with the district, under my own name, and the personal meetings at central office where I personally discussed my questions and issues are far greater than one simple letter. I have called individuals out and asked questions. I'm not a popular guy at central office, I assure you. <br /><br />I do believe I have earned credibility by not only calling for a reduction in pay increases for teachers (or as you would say, my own household.... that is putting my money where my mouth is) but also for the many, yes many, personal letters and emails I've sent to the district leadership, the personal meetings I've called and attended at central office, and for posting on this blog where I have offered new information and certainly learned much more.<br /><br />I don't recall offering to pay your neighbor's way, but I certainly stand behind my offer to pay YOUR way in 2010 if you can find a single post that disputes anything I've said regarding the need to reduce the rate of personnel increases. <br /><br />I only expanded on the thought that our only issue is "greedy" teachers in that the educational philosophy of the 21st century is far different (not necessarily better, but different) than it was 20 years ago. A large part of our personnel increases are directly related to what I call non-classroom teachers. I believe the district calls them certified staff (someone correct me if I have that wrong). Pay increases have been too high and are in need of being reduced substantially. My point, of my last post, is that reducing the slope of the rate increase for current teachers is only one dial to turn. And in fact, the bigger issue (once contract terms for teachers are "corrected") is that we are growing our staff in disproportionate percentages to the increase in students. This has increased our staff payroll substantially. In fact, only 45% of our currenttax dollars goes to pay for classroom teachers. 55% of our costs go to many positions that frankly weren't even considered when you and I attended. This is being driven by the increased diversification of our district (ELL) and by the number of intervention specialists needed to deal with increased IEP's, behavioral specialists, and the ever-expanding curriculum development positions.<br /><br />My point was simple... which you once again missed.<br /><br />1) Teachers need to accept a reduced rate of compensation increase<br /><br />2) AFTER that occurs, we still face a risk in substantial personnel cost increases just by staff growth alone (ELL, intervention, etc) as we continue to change our educational philosophy in his country and as the needs chage due to diversity.<br /><br />3) You tend to not really read or understand when someone is agreeing with you and then accuse them of somehow being "against" you and your cause. Then you attack and use the same, tired arguments.<br /><br />I'm sorry you don't like being called out. But you call out people on this blog, teachers in the district, and other members of the public service segment without pause. And you are probably right to do so. But when someone disagrees with you, offers an alternate view, or even AGREES with you that you mistakenly interpret as disagreement...... you call folks out. But you don't like it much when you are called out.<br /><br />Anyway, stick around, I think you have your heart in the right place.... just try to be more receptive to others viewpoints and actually doublecheck before posting.... because the hand you bite may actually be agreeing with you.<br /><br />Like I said, my contribution and involvement far exceed one letter.... to that you know little about. You shouldn't try to speak from authority on something which you are not fully informed.<br /><br />Now, where are these minions and how can I benefit?KJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742741131942481773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-79185279301353804502009-05-29T17:28:41.646-04:002009-05-29T17:28:41.646-04:00KJ, parting words
Glad you have written one lette...KJ, parting words<br /><br />Glad you have written one letter and made a few appearances publicly<br />Congratulations<br /><br />Not sure about the anger and greedy part, one calls it as it is. The facts not fiction are minimal<br />contributions to medical, 7% raises<br />and the teachers still almost did not pass it. A teacher whom I know well said it was in the neighborhood<br />of 54 to 46 So if you want to call that out that is ok. <br /><br />Just for the rest of you, as KJ and his minions have stated clearly their wishes, before I acquise to their invitation to get out, at Tuesdays meeting I spoke to the following<br /><br />1. Have we at all considered a proposal made 6 months ago<br />to limit our spending growth<br />Silence.... and that is what it sounds many of you really want along with YOUR board<br />2. Asked about remediation rates<br />from the Ohio Regents report \<br />Got blasted after the meeting by<br />Dale, for not including we were making progress. ! Sorry 20% remediation in a District with<br />high standing is a ...........<br />3. Asked about supplemental contracts and couldnt we save some money in this area , and possibly fund some of the other programs cut<br />Hello Musicman, ! perhaps like<br />your music in the elementary and middlle school I digress as I asked about the theatre program<br />cutbacks. Were told there were none, and it was misinformation<br /><br />So why did all those kids show up at the board meeting<br /><br />So keep on keepin on ! Keep giving the board and the district everything they want, have zero courage to be CONSISTENT in showing<br />up and calling them out when needed<br /><br />You have a significant bond issue<br />brought up, and nobody with the exception of Dave Lundegren even comments. And the answer is............. Go ask the Treasurer.<br /><br /><br /><br />Pardon my thoughts and many others in this community who have consistently voted to support the district. Spare us the supposed attack <br /><br />And the beat goes on, with no end in sight, New school operating levy tax, new school bond issue tax<br />new columbus income tax, new blue jackets tax, and then we start over<br /><br />This is apparently not an issue for some here, but most of us are not getting any increases and are hoping to keep our jobs. For those on fixed income, disablility<br />and have lost their job. well the district and its entities say sorry but we want our money, and oh by the way YOU CAN AFFORD IT.<br /><br />I would like to ask some questions of the board of what the plan is now for the next contract given the new 5 year very tough forecast.<br />we saw tuesday evening.<br /><br />I would like to ask the Audit and Accountabliity commitee questions <br />about how they view the bond<br />sale issue<br /><br />I would like to ask the board about<br />how the annexation, Homewood deal reallty came out in the end. <br />Are we going to have to pay some further hidden costs in hook ups.<br /><br />But,,,,,,,,,,,, because it is repetitive, I wont KJ, I will take you up on your offer on the tax payment for my neighbor who lost their job,and is working two retail jobs, with no medical coverage, and trying to sell before foreclosure comes quickly.<br /><br />The challenge really is that the same dialogue would not come up, if just for once we got a good and <br />accurate answer. <br /><br />As Ben Franklin said<br />"those that would sacrifice a little liberty, for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor<br />safety"Ranger Ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-14085024827430108472009-05-14T07:07:00.000-04:002009-05-14T07:07:00.000-04:00OK with meOK with meRICKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-60325055721331802112009-05-13T22:00:00.000-04:002009-05-13T22:00:00.000-04:00Rick, I can't tell if your rant was meant to be ai...Rick, I can't tell if your rant was meant to be aimed at me, or if you just happened to use my name and gave he appearance of such,<br /><br />However, if you are implying that <br /><br />1) I don't think we need to cut raises,<br /><br />2) think I am voting FOR another levy without concessions, or <br /><br />3) you think my spouse is one of these "greedy, good for nothing" teachers you keep talking about....<br /><br />You are DEAD wrong.<br /><br />Before you reply, I encourage you to read any, and every, post I've ever written on this site. And if you can find ANYWHERE where I have said that we shouldn't reduce the spend rate in this district or that I will support another levy without such.... please provide it to me and I will personally (and I'm serious) pay your school portion of 2010 property taxes. I'm a man of my word, and I promise you, I WILL pay them. Afterall, my wife's a teacher... we can certainly afford it.<br /><br />You either mispoke, can't read, or are so angry you can't see what's right in front of you.<br /><br />I have said, many many many times (I even said it in my previous post, THAT...<br /><br />1) We MUST reduce the growth rate of district salaries, and <br /><br />2) that I WOULD NOT support the next levy without certain concessions by the dsitrict (teachers, admin, and board).<br /><br />I even wrote a letter on this site, and sent it to ALL district leaders, stating such.<br /><br />I think this is where others get the impression that you are unwilling to read or hear others. You state the same over and over... rarely adding anything new and tend to reply without truly reading what was read. It grows tiring man...<br /><br />At least many of the people you berate try to bring new thought and solutions to the discussion. Honestly, you don't ever need to post again... it's the same post over and over. We get it!KJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742741131942481773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-48049459834013668922009-05-13T19:10:00.000-04:002009-05-13T19:10:00.000-04:00KJ, points well taken. I do not believe for one mi...KJ, points well taken. I do not believe for one minute that anyone wants to blow up the district at any point.<br />KJ<br />The community again supported a significant increase in support in November. I expect another levy in Feb of next year and and operating levy. Again it is forgotten, just ask for more and more and come up more lame excuses why things are what they are<br /><br />While I totally agree that the funding issue will not completely go away, I think we have to start someplace. This district and its employees are not going to give up the 7% cash cow, the premium time off, the out of control minimal contribution to their medical benefits. <br /><br />The district was asked as we got deep intothis recession to give somethought to a reduction in growth, NOT a reduction in spendiing 3% growth on our huge budget would STILL be substantial<br /><br />What we got is silence. What we get is ridicule. They should be planning now to make the adjustments. They will use the excellent with distinction and the threat of cutting sports, music et all again, and they will bully the public again to cave to their <br />7% demands. And when you dont agree with them they paint you as anti education which is just total crap.<br /><br />I started talking about this subject over 20 years ago in another district, and in this district 8 years ago. Nothing changes, we just have to pay more.<br /><br />I have no sympathy for the teachers and the other employee unions in our district as they have supported not only locally<br />but at the statehouse with huge campaign contributions. They have a lot of clout, they have failed, but yet the community gets blamed for not anteing up when the district and employees TELL us to.<br /><br />They can work to the contract and deny benefits to students that they need to cover college costs, buthide behind their demogagory<br />about it being about the kids<br /><br />I am willing to provide more funds<br />due to our growth, but before that commitment comes, there needs to be a drastic reduction in the growth of compensation. Now some idiot out there will read this <br />and call that a cut, which is just stupid.<br /><br />Lets face it, the district and its employees could care less until it is levy time and contract time<br /><br />The first step, with NO other consideration is to move to a slower rate of increases. Note did not say cuts. I keep hearing all this elitist crap that everyone here in Hilliard can afford whatever the district, the teachers and OAPSE want, That too is garbage. Many people are struggling but I will get back the median income Govt stats, well<br />how about getting real. KJ do you still believe everyone is getting <br />even 3% raises, Some of us would just like not to get another cut.<br />Those on fixed incomes who thought they could stay in their homes once paid off, wonder if they can<br />Two income families who have both lost their jobs wonder too. But too many of you dont see this as reality. <br /><br />Cut your cell phones, cut your cable, dont take a 1 day vacation<br />Dont like it move out. Why should an elderly person, fixed income who allways supported levies, and are now struggling be told that.<br />There are a good many here in Hilliard, and even if it only 1 which is not the case but there seems to be disbelief that there are people struggling<br /><br />If all the "so called " concerned<br />and good teachers really cared they would stand up now and <br />show they are willing to make adjustments to help continue<br />our educational programs here.<br /><br />At some point we will face the same challenges that Southwestern is having, and Worthington has a group showing a spending issue, not a revenue issue.<br /><br />In the meantime we all will have to pay more, and more and more<br /><br />Enjoy your 7% household pay raise<br />and minimal medical payment.<br />Lots of time off, snow days, planning time. At somepoint the bank will be broke and the community will be tapped.ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-79332563250739714142009-05-12T08:15:00.000-04:002009-05-12T08:15:00.000-04:00TJ: Thanks for the info. I do find value in much ...TJ: Thanks for the info. I do find value in much of what Fedako digs up, I just wish he didn't place it in such a caustic wrapper.<br /><br />KJ: Thanks for the thoughtful post. You are indeed correct that there's more to all this than just employee salaries. For those who haven't seen it before, <A HREF="http://www.savehilliardschools.org/headcountanalysis.pdf" REL="nofollow">here</A> is a chart which shows employee growth by job classification. To KJ's point, the number of regular classroom teachers-to-student ratio has remained at 20:1 for the last decade. It's all the other positions which have grown. <br /><br />We have to re-evaluate how many of these are necessary.<br /><br />PLPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-9737657946718942242009-05-12T02:42:00.000-04:002009-05-12T02:42:00.000-04:00I agree with much of what is discussed on here. A...I agree with much of what is discussed on here. And while I choose to read more than post these days, I think it’s prudent from time to time to interject some “basics”. I also have a few general comments in response to some of the discussion here.<br /><br />First, I am the spouse of a teacher, for those that are new. And I am 100% in agreement that the growth rate of our district spending needs to be reduced greatly if we are to survive. I believe all Columbus suburban districts are heading for a implosion if things don’t change.<br /><br />I understand that 87% or more of our funding goes to personnel costs (classroom teachers, special teachers, administrators, etc) and that looking to save significant dollars in the remaining 13% of the budget is a lot like trying to salvage the Federal Government by cutting President Obama’s Tailor bill (I don’t know where it came from, I just make this stuff up). Anyone with an ounce of education and common sense knows that the bulk of savings has to come from the biggest piece of the expenditure pie.<br /><br />With that said, there are some subtle things that get missed when we speak in generalities about the “90%” of our tax dollars that go to personnel. Only roughly 45% of our budget goes to classroom teachers. The balance goes to intervention teachers, ELL specialists, special education teachers, etc. <br /><br />Why do I point this out? Do I think we should continue to pay teachers increases that range from 3 to 7% a year? The answer is simply, no. However, slowing the rate of salary growth is only one portion of the solution. The rate at which non-classroom teacher positions has grown since 1998 (over 154%) is astronomical and has played a significant role in the personnel costs of the district over the past 10 years. <br /><br />So, why do we have all of these teachers? One poster lamented of “our day” when we only had chalkboards and books. What happened to those “good old days”? Well, back in that day we didn’t have an influx of non-english speaking students, we didn’t have “special education” as we define it today, there was no such things as an IEP, and on and on. My point is, the landscape of education has changed drastically in the past 30, even 20 years. For better and for worse. <br /><br />My point is that the growth rate of our current payroll is not just in the 3 to 7% increases our teacher’s enjoy but also in the number of “teachers” we now have as a result of either changing need (ELL teachers) and/or changing approach to education (intervention specialists). We currently have approximately 250 non-traditional classroom teachers in our district compared to approximately 750 traditional classroom teachers. That means for every THREE traditional classroom teacher in our district, we have ONE auxiliary teacher (tutor, intervention, ELL, counselor, psychologist, etc). Folks, that’s A LOT! 25% of our “teacher” payroll is comprised of what many of us would consider, non-traditional teachers. Meaning, 20 or 30 years ago we wouldn’t have seen these positions on a district payroll.<br /><br />So, what I question (and I’m certainly not certified to answer) is why do we have so many of these positions? Obviously if a child can’t speak English, we have to teach them the language, right? If we don’t, then these students bring down our all-important test scores (no exemptions folks) and then out district and staff get berated for poor performance and our state dollars are in jeopardy. What about all of these IEP’s? These are specialized education plans that the district, by law, MUST provide to a qualifying student. This is where the intervention specialist, tutors, etc come in. Granted, SOME of these positions are paid by grant, but most are not. Are we spending too much on the bottom 20%? Is this the all-to-often crime of putting 80% of our resources to only 20% of the enterprise? Heck, does it even help? Think back to your school days…. How many kids ever really moved up the class standings? Wasn’t the bottom third always the bottom third? Are we sinking money into a lost cause by having all of these IEP’s? We COULD just let our accomplished students stay in school and our costs would go down and our aggregate scores would go up. Problem solved, Right? Some would say this is a good idea! However, who pays for the uneducated? WE do!; only in a different social form (welfare, etc).<br /><br />Before anyone jumps me for being elitist, I AM NOT advocating we leave any child behind. I am, however, pointing out that our approach to education has changed dramatically, and thus the cost of educating has gone up. Is it working? Personally, I don’t think so. I’m sorry, but I do think we are spending too much money on teaching English to kids who can’t speak it. I think we have too many IEP’s (c’mon, many are needed, but it’s a bit overkill these days), and what was once behavior handled by discipline, we now have entire programs and staffs to deal with disruptive children incapable of handling group education. <br /><br />Paul talks about the Perfect Storm…. And I agree. But one component of the “storm” that gets little press is the change in our educational philosophy. Honestly, I think that is a reflection of our societal mindset (the collective “us”) than the act of a rogue union, bureaucratic administration, or inept school board.<br /><br />It’s just something to think about folks. We spend a lot of time beating on a lot of specifics that we really don’t understand. I thought it was time that we look at different numbers in a different way.<br /><br />Do we need to reduce the spending rate? YES. <br />Do we need to teach non-English speaking students? YES <br />Are we better off with IEP’s and Intervention? I think so, but am not qualified to assess. <br /><br />We should, and can, reduce the rate of salary growth. But that won’t get us where we need to be all by itself. Once that particular problem is fixed, our funding problems will NOT go away. I’ve been clear on this since I started posting on this blog. This is a much bigger issue than a “correction” to compensation. Granted, it’s the FIRST step and the immediate step to take. But once this is fixed, the fight to save education in America and the struggle to fund it will continue. To this point, I agree 100% with Musicman….. We can’t blow up the factory because the light bill is too high. With no factory, what have we left? It’s a pay now or pay later situation. The question we have to answer is how much and for what will we pay? And what is the cost of not meeting the call? To use the business speak so many of us love to throw around this blog…Risk of doing nothing must always be included in an ROI analysis. That means, what’s the down road cost of NOT investing?KJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742741131942481773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-10862596956643973792009-05-11T19:07:00.000-04:002009-05-11T19:07:00.000-04:00One last parting shot--
Hilliard received a conde...One last parting shot--<br /><br />Hilliard received a condescending, honorable mention in an email that shows the all-too-common deceit of school district administrations. The superintendent and--looks like--the treasurer of New Albany have been caught in a secret email exchange with consultants--and the former Olentangy Minister of Information--scheming on how to strongarm New Albany to pass the levy. Sickening. <br /><br />Word to Paul--you make damn sure that none of these consultants are employed by your school district. They are scum. <br /><br />Love him or hate him, Fedako is an effective SOB. <br /><br />TJ<br /><br />http://antipositivist.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-90576210989163683022009-05-11T18:52:00.000-04:002009-05-11T18:52:00.000-04:00Musicman--I mean no disrespect, really and honestl...Musicman--I mean no disrespect, really and honestly. And it's not for fun's sake, as we both have better things to do. If I wanted to do nothing more than to insult anyone on this board I would do that instead of trying to appeal (and repeatedly so) to yours, or anyone else's, sensibilities.<br /><br />It's not a matter of me "not hearing you". I do. My frustration is that you refuse to acknowledge the facts that I, and others, have presented here that prove what I have stated. <br /><br />But...you contradict yourself repeatedly in your own post to Paul, which leads me to believe that you really don't know what you believe.<br /><br />You write:<br /><br />"-I agree that things need to change."<br />Then you write a few paragraphs down, "If I thought they were doing things wrong, I would work to change them WITHOUT affecting opportunities for students."<br /><br />Then you write, "The districts have done their part, as we speak of at length on this board."<br /><br />The districts DO NOT do their part. This is not my opinion, this is statistical FACT, and it is measureable in at least two objective ways amply presented on this board. Note that I did not state "...debated on this board" because there is no debate. The facts are what they are. It is probably because you are a teacher that you are unwilling to acknowledge these truths. <br /><br />If spending were the key to a quality public education then we would have the finest, highest scoring students on the global comparison charts. But we do not--and Hilliard, and Olentangy, and virtually all public school districts are components of these comparisons. For the amount of funds we allocate for our public education our results are abysmal--every international analysis and tracking entity has posted these results, year after year, showing American students lagging far behind their contemporaries in "wealthy" countries and scoring behind or tying with their counterparts from Third World countries. And, right here at home we have Ohio colleges and universities telling us, year after year, that our school districts are sending masses of graduates to their schools unprepared. The results of this are devastating to students, and finaciall burdensome to their parents.<br /><br />One can't change something unless, A.) One sees it, and B.) One acknowledges that change must be affected. Musicman--you haven't even gotten to "A". <br /><br />Out of deference to Musicman's place on this blog--because he has posted here far longer than I have--I will no post or visit, if that will keep him here. <br /><br />TJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-68434001649324140962009-05-11T12:46:00.000-04:002009-05-11T12:46:00.000-04:00musicman,
I admire your passion and viewpoints yo...musicman,<br /><br />I admire your passion and viewpoints you bring to this forum, and will miss them if you decide to go silent.<br /><br />I certainly hope there are more teachers of your feelings in our systems than not. However, until enough of you band together and realize that you have direct impact on saving some of the programming that is being dropped by acknowledging the unsustainable spending trajectory and agreeing to reduced increases in the future, we are heading to a terrible collision as SWCS is experiencing. Until I see this type of action in HCSD (I realize you are not in the HEA), I will take the "it's for the kids" message with a grain of salt.<br /><br />I'm sure a minor decrease in raise or step would have saved the drama program recently dropped in HCSD.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-17516367265388811772009-05-11T08:26:00.000-04:002009-05-11T08:26:00.000-04:00Paul,
It isn't the attacks that bother me; I have...Paul,<br /><br />It isn't the attacks that bother me; I have been called MUCH worse in my day! It is the unwillingness to listen to others that makes me question my place here. I will surely continue to read, and may post occasionally, but will not be engaging in debate any longer.<br /><br />Thanks!musicmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-17325974914566346772009-05-10T23:13:00.000-04:002009-05-10T23:13:00.000-04:00Musicman:
I understand your frustration with the ...Musicman:<br /><br />I understand your frustration with the name-calling. Because of your suggestion that I let other more obnoxious stuff (pointed at me) through, I allowed whoever this Anonymous is to make his point. I won't allow that tone to continue however.<br /><br />I believe that you are a teacher who loves your vocation, and who is motivated both by how it makes you feel, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a difference for the kids. And I believe most teachers share your motivations.<br /><br />My target is, and will always be, those who are using good-hearted folks like you to further their ambitions - which is to take as much money out of my pocket, and those of the other taxpayers, as they can get. They're taking one of the most beautiful concepts in our country - access to education for all - and turning into a con game. That's what politics in America has become - a con game.<br /><br />I understand your love of teaching - it's the best part of what I do as well. I'm doubly envious that you get to teach music, as does my daughter. You are blessed if you can move through your career without having to deal with this dark stuff.<br /><br />But it's there, and it's eating up our communities. The battle to restore balance won't be pretty or painless. Some kids may get caught in the crossfire, as will be case of those in SWCS next year. <br /><br />That's the reason I supported our last levy in Hilliard - because the Board and Administration decided to hold the kids hostage. It is my intention to not allow that to happen again.<br /><br />Hope to see more from you.<br /><br />PLPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-79191559681149815452009-05-10T20:35:00.000-04:002009-05-10T20:35:00.000-04:00Not sure what makes me smile more:
-The COMPLETE ...Not sure what makes me smile more:<br /><br />-The COMPLETE dismissal of my opinion by Anonymous, brought full circle with a string of insults,<br /><br />OR<br /><br />-The COMPLETE dismissal of my statements AGREEING with you.<br /><br />Paul and varying Anonymoususes, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY, AS I AM BUT A SIMPLE-MINDED HUMAN BEING. SOMETIMES I STRUGGLE TO USE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TO ARTICULATE MY THOUGHTS, SO I APOLOGIZE IF IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND A MERE TEACHER SUCH AS MYSELF.<br /><br />-I agree that things need to change.<br />-I agree that unions are not the answer.<br />-I agree that the compensation model must change.<br />-I agree there are bad teachers.<br />-I agree there is probably waste.<br />-I agree school districts need to be accountable to their consituency.<br /><br />I also think that:<br />-Our children are our future.<br />-They deserve better then to get stuck in the middle.<br />-Them being stuck is the fault of BOTH sides, community included.<br />-Too many people vote no because they can, not because they have a legitimate reason.<br />-YOUR school administrators are infinitely more intelligent than you give them credit for<br /><br />and, HERE IS THE BIG ONE<br /><br />-I will always do EVERYTHING in my power to give more opportunities. If my school district tells me they need more; I give more. If I thought they were doing things wrong, I would work to change them WITHOUT affecting opportunities for students. <br /><br />You have all become complicit in this tragedy by doing your part to deny opportunities to students. The districts have done their part, as we speak of at length on this board.<br /><br />Paul, to say school districts #1 priority is not teaching students is naive at best, and incredibly disrespectful to the people who work hard to do so every day.<br /><br />I think I am about done here. We no longer debate respectfully, acknowledge the validity of one anothers ideas, or really LISTEN to anything other than what we want to hear. I have learned a lot from many on here (Paul, Rick, KJ,Anonymous), but have also learned that there is not room on this board for another opinion.<br /><br />The truth is schools are about kids, AND that communities reap what they sow. I'm going to go teach kids tomorrow, unfortunately in a school district that has chosen not to value its' students. Because it IS about kids. ALWAYS. To say it is anything less is to completely miss the point, to fail to see the forest through the trees. <br /><br />You may not like how things are. So change it. But change it for the better. Cutting doesn't help kids. Removing opportunities doesn't help kids. They aren't widgets or doodads, for pete's sake, and you are NOT shareholders. They are human beings, and you are a community, and you have a moral obligation to support your youth. This isn't a publicly traded company, where you can sell your shares if you are unhappy. Everywhere you move there are young people, and they deserve an education. We owe it to them. <br /><br /><br />And with that, I am off to Mars, or my dream world, or wherever it was I was supposed to be living. Thanks Paul for a bit of your web space over the past year or so, sorry to fill it with thoughts of bettering the world, and not just our pocket books.<br /><br />Still smiling though, because I get to go teach tomorrow! :0)musicmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-47654215561070014702009-05-10T19:07:00.000-04:002009-05-10T19:07:00.000-04:00Mars Man--If I were you I'd skip this post. The t...Mars Man--If I were you I'd skip this post. The thought of your head exploding is too much for me to take, so I'm warning you now. <br /><br />Paul, Rick, other reasonable people: It is not enough to show that teachers are receiving 7% raises each year to get your community on board. You really have to destroy the premises (lies) that your district has been able to prop up that have become hardened orthodoxy over time due to having never been challenged. You really need to stop being so polite toward your district administration, and so deferential to the teachers. And this begins with the predictable beginning of your next post, "Even though they provide an excellent--" [STOP!!!!!] <br /><br />Because the concept of Value Product is so alien, and Measureable Results is so anathema, to the public education industry they and their proxies (PTA, Board) fight tooth and nail to keep the debate away from logic and commonsense and at the level of smoke and mirrors. <br /><br />You will never win your argument unless you bring the debate down to the level of ROI, and you will never begin to do this unless you destroy their base premises that higher pay, more spending on professional development, lower teacher ratios, etc. result in higher achievement; that you dare not rock the boat with respect to teacher and administrator pay, lest you want an exodus of "excellent teachers and administrators", and other fearmongering hackney. And, most important of all, you have to be willing to debase their argument that they are providing a top flight education. It is fact that they are not.<br /><br />People will rationalize paying high prices for things they believe are of high quality. Only when you smash the illusion that your community is getting a top shelf product in their kids' education will they begin to listen to you. <br /><br />That's why talking about the high remediation rates and poor AP performance is important. Those challenge the fortress premise that our kids are receiving an "Excellent with Distinction" education. They are not--Ohio colleges and universities have told us this for years that our kids are not receiving a high quality education, and our school districts have kept this dirty little secret from us while shoving their grubby hands in our faces for more and more money. It's a scandal and an outrage. <br /><br />Only when you begin to slay these sacred cows--and others--, and shout these truths from the mountaintop will your community follow your lead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-32501860479818144242009-05-10T17:23:00.000-04:002009-05-10T17:23:00.000-04:00Musicman--your new name is now "Mars Man" because ...Musicman--your new name is now "Mars Man" because you must be living on another planet. <br /><br />I've said it before, and I'll say it again: its' people like you who are to blame for the fortress mentality that exists between communities and their school districts. You, and those denialists like you, conflate "higher spend" with "higher achievement". I saw Paul refer to Michelle Rhee in another post. I watched her on CSPAN a couple months back speak at a summit for education reform. She mocked and dismatled, with facts and personal experience, the staid thinking by the education lobby that spend and achievement are mutually inclusive, and increase proporationally to one another. They do not. <br /><br />The finest minds this country produced did not have computers--they had books. They did not have $3,000 Smartboards--they had chalkboards. They did not have tens of millions of dollars of frivolous accoutrements posing as serious curricula. Or sports, or six choirs, or four ceramics courses, or three jewelry courses. And one doesn't have to go that far back. If you went back fifty years you'd see an education so alien to what we see today that it would be unrecognizable. <br /><br />Rick is the voice of reason on this, and it is you who is irrational.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-33904595243883851132009-05-10T14:02:00.000-04:002009-05-10T14:02:00.000-04:00Musicman:
I wish I could just jump on board with ...Musicman:<br /><br />I wish I could just jump on board with what you are saying. But I think it's a bit naive.<br /><br />I'm not so sure that schools are in the business of educating kids. I think they're primarily in the business of employing teachers, administrators and staff, and secondarily, doling what's left out to suppliers and construction firms.<br /><br />That's not so say that there aren't teachers, administrators and staff for whom education is a calling, and whose primary focus is the kids. I'm just saying that the key decision makers in this domain are more focused on the money flow than they are the kids.<br /><br />Look, I really love my profession too. I was honored by the opportunity to lead a talented team, and motivated by the opportunity to serve our customers, and earn their trust. I don't think it would have been much different had I earned half as much, or twice as much.<br /><br />But that doesn't mean money wasn't in the picture. The willingness of our customers to pay the price we asked determined how much money we all made. And we'd prefer to not leave any money on the table.<br /><br />School operating levies are about headcount and compensation - pure and simple. It's not about the price of diesel fuel or how much paper gets wasted.<br /><br />And the placing of a school levy on the ballot is nothing more than a negotiation between the school employees and the community. When we pass a levy, we're telling the employees that we're willing to pay what they're asking. When we shoot one down, we're saying we aren't.<br /><br />Except that very few people in the community understand that this is what's going on. The administrators and union leaders certainly do. But Joe and Jane Public is largely ignorant of this economic reality, and so vote based on opinions formed from ignorance and personal experience - not on informed analysis.<br /><br />I led an organization of nearly 1,000 people scattered across two continents, with a budget over a quarter $billion. Every year, I had to negotiate a new budget with my boss, the President of the company. The way that usually went was that he told me how much more he wanted produced for how much less money. He wasn't some money-hungry evil person - he knew that the constant pressure of competition would continue to drive prices down, and we were going to need to constantly reduce cost to stay in the game.<br /><br />He didn't worry about the details - he left it up to me and our team to figure it out. That's because he had no expertise in what our group did (engineering and operations). But he knew we understood why he made this demand, as much as we bitched about the pain it caused, and that we all knew that our individual success depended on the success of the company as a whole.<br /><br />Rick is proposing a similar kind of thinking. More of us in the community are growing unhappy with the cost of operating our school system. Rick is suggesting that we tell the leadership - the Board, the Administration, and the unions - to reduce the rate of growth, and let them figure out how. They're the experts not us - we're just saying that the price is too high.<br /><br />So far, the response to cost pressure has been to say that the kids will suffer, to cut programs, and to lay off teachers just getting started in their careers.<br /><br />Aren't there other, better solutions? <br /><br />What if the unions back off on their pay demands in the next contract? How is that going to hurt the kids?<br /><br />Will we get an epidemic of teachers quitting to find better jobs? Let them try. There aren't many better teaching jobs out there. That's why we have many times as many applicants as openings.<br /><br />The public education system nationwide has become some bizarro world where the kids are pawns, and the real objective has become to suck as much money out of the taxpayers as possible to underwrite the compensation of the whole public education ecosystem.<br /><br />The system is becoming unstable, primarily because compensation costs have driven folks to their limits. The education world wants to fix that by turning all taxation and compensation decisions over to the state (or federal) government, and taking all choice away from local communities.<br /><br />The other scenario is what we're going to see played out in South Western City Schools. It will start by punishing kids and parents by canceling programs, and sacrificing the young teachers. The school leadership is betting that they'll be able to bully the community into paying more taxes.<br /><br />I hope it galvanizes the people of SWCS. I'd start by telling the employees that they're all going to get a 10% pay cut, starting immediately, and that money is going to be used to restore programming and services (e.g. extra-curricular activities). <br /><br />Then we'll find out if it's all about the kids...Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-81456096677573209562009-05-10T09:30:00.000-04:002009-05-10T09:30:00.000-04:00Rick,
The more you right, the more:
1) I agree w...Rick,<br /><br />The more you right, the more:<br /><br />1) I agree with you, you are a very wise man who has put a lot of rational thought into this.<br /><br />2) I am turned off by your disrespect for people, like myself, who put the interests of students above their own.<br /><br />The bottom line is this: The business of a school district is KIDS. When levies are defeated, KIDS suffer. Is it right? No. Are HCSD and HEA at fault? Yes. But does it hurt KIDS?? YES!!!!!!<br /><br />I will NEVER EVER EVER vote a levy down, because I can't do that to the kids. It might not be fair, but it IS.<br /><br />I know you care about kids Rick, but I am not a fan of tough love when it comes to schools. It is our moral and civil obligation to provide our students with everything we can to give them a chance, to give them better than what we had.<br /><br />How DARE we take opportunities away from them because we are mad at HCSD? Could we say the same for HCSD (How dare they?). YES. And we should.<br /><br />But we should NEVER take opportunities away from kids, and right our wrong, that is what happens when levies fail.<br /><br />I agree with so much of what you say, but your solution to the problem (cutting off funding) will NOT work. Just like cutting off funding to the troops didn't cause a withdrawal in Iraq.<br /><br />Our kids deserve everything we've got. They deserve more than our ridiculous adult squabbles that end up costing them opportunities.<br /><br />You want to fix the problem? GREAT! Remodel the house without tearing it down first. Tearing it down does us NO good.<br /><br />ANY comment about how some students must suffer so the future can be fixed will fall on deaf ears. Our students NOW need us.<br /><br />You say so many smart and intelligent things, it makes me wonder how you can then turn around and justify denying kids these opportunities. HCSD may be the shmuckos who are "blackmailing" you, or whatever you want to call it, but you are falling for it.<br /><br />Don't our kids deserve better? Aren't we supposed to pay it forward? THIS smacks of "I got mine, now I'm taking my ball and going home."musicmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-40466674139023940722009-05-09T23:30:00.000-04:002009-05-09T23:30:00.000-04:00Bravo, Rick. (pssst--everone: he GETS IT).
I hate...Bravo, Rick. (pssst--everone: he GETS IT).<br /><br />I hate to say this, but one really doesn't understand the issue unless one becomes indignant with the information s/he has learned. And one does not become an agent for change until s/he becomes angry about it.<br /><br />Unless and until you become disgusted and resentful (not HATEFUL, Musicman--there is a difference) with what is going on you cannot claim to understand the issue and you will not do that which is necessary to change it.<br /><br />TJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-84808792187907123072009-05-09T11:44:00.000-04:002009-05-09T11:44:00.000-04:00I have come up with a palatable 70.00 per hundred ...I have come up with a palatable 70.00 per hundred thousand, so with a median house of 200,000 140.00 per year over a minimum 3 year period.<br /><br />There are going to be cost increases to deal with and I am not going to stick my head in the sand<br />and say we wont have a slight new contribution. I am consistent in believeing that ALL of us should contribute. All of us should understand that with current City Council and Mayoral priorities, <br />we will see another influx of new housing. The land is zoned, water access etc all ready to go.<br />More students will mean more expenditures.<br /><br />Unfortunatly I have no confidence<br />that we will see anything like I have proposed a 2.5 to 3% increase<br />in spending growth targets. Unlike the masses I have made my proposals to the board, spoken up, much to the detriment of my children in the classroom, and began this journey over 7 years ago when I spoke to at Memorial Middle school. At that time I brought up to the board and our legislators in attendence, where the replacement money for the reduction in business tax contribution was going to come from<br />7 years later there is no answer and it is coming from the individual homeowner in a disproportionate fashion<br /><br />I remain only slightly hopeful that our board and admin will put the next contract on the table now<br />instead of waiting.<br /><br />The step raise should be reduced<br />to 2% and a regular raise perhaps to 1% with some freezes.<br /><br />However, I doubt that this will happen. The HEA will pour thousands of dollars into the board campaign in the fall. I see<br />more of the same from our board giving out 7% increases in compensation and minimal heatlth contributions.<br /><br />I also see no changes to contract language that allows the HEA to work to the contract and deny students their right to access grants, scholarships and other aid<br />because the teachers are more important than the kids.<br /><br />As far as the bond levy goes, periodically as required by law<br />the bond levy, supports spending as far as repairs to infrastructure<br />roofs, parking lots, plumbing<br />bus purchases, computers, electrical upgrades. We have high usage and things do wear out.<br />I would expect a bond issue looking at our balances sometime in 2011 or perhaps 2012 just in time for another operating levy<br />in 2012.<br /><br />The discussion needs to happen now on future compensation increases.<br />Feel confident that the board will<br />ignore this, continue to threaten<br />cuts in busing, sports, music, extra curriculars etc. taking the cuts out of 10% of the budget.<br /><br />I dont think anyone in the district has courage to tackle the <br />90% factor within the employment compensation area.<br /><br />The district, the teachers, OAPSE<br />HEA and their supporters are quick to single out the taxpayers as selfish, uncaring about education<br /><br />All the while they are filling their pockets with 7% increments<br /><br />Anon, I have spoken publicly about all of this on the record.<br /><br />Where the hell is everyone else.<br /><br />The district with it head in the sand attitude is baiting the public to formalize an organized opposition. You rally the seniors, fixed income group, those without children, those who are on disability, have lost jobs taken pay cuts, et all and say why are you voting to raise someones salary 7% when you are getting nothing. Pretty simple, pretty hard hitting.<br /><br />Educate Worthington did a great information piece for the election<br />and the electorate responded.<br /><br />I have no issue for you naysayers<br />muscicman, who say we dont care about the kids and their education<br />as no increases in spending is not <br />realistic either.<br /><br />Tired of hearing you dont get it , tired of the smokescreen of its about the kids, tired of hearing people should move<br /><br />This district its employees and union leadership have slapped the community in the face The communities financial support in compensation, benefits, work environment, days off, planning time, medical contribution<br /><br />(please 25.00 a month for medical coverage !) and that is not enough for our employees not to threaten to go on strike0) is substantial and has been consistent<br /><br />Open letter to the HEA leadership<br />the board, the administrators and<br />their supporters. Why do you disrespect the very community who have provided an excellent vehicle to educate our childrenRicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-77699819686759528232009-05-08T14:07:00.000-04:002009-05-08T14:07:00.000-04:00Regarding the comment about $70 per 100,000 target...Regarding the comment about $70 per 100,000 target as next levy - Where are you getting this number? Is your position as a PAC going to be to just pull a nice round number out of your tookus that sounds like it might fly with voters? We need to be talking about cost control and cuts long before we start talking levy. We need to decide what we need, not what we'd like to have. And a bond issue? With a stagnant student population, why in the world would we need a bond levy? Perhaps the commenter is speaking only for himself, but I hope your PAC isn't going to turn out to be just more of the same "let's have a levy every 2 years" from fresh new faces. My prediction has always been that in Feb 2010, after the new school board is seated, a new levy will be proposed, "gotta have it, can't live without it", no matter who wins the election. Hopefully folks aren't already bandying around what the price point is going to be. JMHO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-84148956346456527652009-05-07T16:33:00.000-04:002009-05-07T16:33:00.000-04:00Eire:
The media does a disservice with stats lik...Eire: <br /><br />The media does a disservice with stats like that. Most renewal levys pass because they don't involve a large increase in current taxes. Many levys are for capital improvements and those tend to do well. The comparison group for districts like Worthington in this election cycle would be those districts that are seeking new, permanent property taxes. Statewide, they didn't do much better than Worthington. <br /><br />You can view school district results statewide here: <br /><br />http://education.ohio.gov/GD/DocumentManagement/DocumentDownload.aspx?DocumentID=67151<br /><br />In a normal year, the standard approach would be to go right back on the ballot. This is not a normal year. I hope we (Worthington) take the time to assess whether our defeat was caused by the economy or whether our voters have simply hit the wall. It's probably a combination of the two.Marcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-35881246018010798812009-05-06T16:58:00.000-04:002009-05-06T16:58:00.000-04:00Worthington went down in flames--shocked. And it ...Worthington went down in flames--shocked. And it went down convincingly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-39820255052132553372009-05-06T14:27:00.000-04:002009-05-06T14:27:00.000-04:002/3rds of school issues passed yesterday despite t...2/3rds of school issues passed yesterday despite the worst recession in recent memory. Unfortunately that's not likely to create much of a sense of urgency for the Hilliard district and its champagne tastes.Eirenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-4646529774176395942009-05-06T07:38:00.000-04:002009-05-06T07:38:00.000-04:00Read the link I posted earlier about NYC teachers ...Read the link I posted earlier about NYC teachers at KIPP asking to separate from the UFT. They're happier in an "at will" work environment because they see the results of their labor, and can get rid of morale-sapping bad teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4289345346387194350.post-4796605282341107352009-05-06T07:33:00.000-04:002009-05-06T07:33:00.000-04:00Musicman says:
"That is what I was thinking he "m...Musicman says:<br /><br />"That is what I was thinking he "meant", but that isn't what he "said." Some universities give credit for a 3, but most only for 4 or 5. I certainly wouldn't call a 3 failing.<br /><br />As with the remediation rate, I think it foolish to look at these numbers as the ONLY way to measure effectiveness. They are telling, but they are not ALL-telling."<br /><br />A "3" isn't failing, but it's the equivalent of a "C"--which is "Fair"--not "Good"--and statistically the bell curve of this group swells in the mid 70's to low 80's. By senior year of high school one would hope that students would be more prepared to take college level-courses...and only 62% of had the confidence to take AP courses. How would the balance of that population have fared?<br /><br />Gee--if high school students' results from taking college level-courses, and the actual statistics that colleges supply the Board of Regents that detail the high failure rates of incoming freshman on entrance exams are not "telling", then what is?<br /><br />Musicman--tell us: What measurements of preparedness for college do you think are "ALL telling"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com