Time for a game of Jeopardy.
Name a school district identified by the California Department of Education that is in "financial jeopardy".
What is Capistrano Unified?
That would be correct.
The Orange County Department of Education has recently met with our school district's Board of Trustees to discuss the severity of the district's financial situation. The California Department of Education also notified the district it is in "financial jeopardy." Capistrano Unified is facing a deficit of $50 million.
The Board of Trustees has made a number of controversial financial decisions over the last two years. Now it has a more serious one to tackle. How will it close the gap?
Labor negotiations with the teachers' union are about to begin. Teaching is a labor intensive business so much of the district's finances are spent on pay. It will be impossible to close the deficit without pay cuts.
The teachers' union went on strike about two years ago over a 10 percent pay cut. It has since been partially restored. It waits to be seen how they will react to an even more serious situation that could result in a greater reduction in pay and layoffs.
The Governor plans to place a tax increase on the ballot. Should it pass, the State will be in a better position to pay for the deferrals it has promised local school districts. But are Californians willing to vote themselves a tax increase?
California already has some of the highest taxes in the nation. Many residents within the boundaries of Capistrano Unified also pay mello roos. Tax increases don't resonate with our local electorate. However, the Governor's proposal and perhaps other tax proposals will be on the ballot in a statewide election. It waits to be seen how the rest of the state will vote.
I don't envy those in the field of education. California's anti-business climate has made our situation in the recession worse than other states and has slowed our recovery. School districts have taken it on the chin for a number of years.
Teachers and school district support staff have been on a financial roller coaster for a number of years. It needs to come to a stop.
Our state legislators need to focus their attention on creating a business friendly climate to restore jobs so people can pay taxes. This would be the best gift they could give schools to meet their future needs.
Do you have a point or are you just here to insult and name call?
Teachers will not take "another" cut. Teachers' salaries have not declined in the OC in the last decade. This year, classroom sizes will be increasing again because of lay offs. However the remaining teachers will see their salaries rise as they have for the last several years. jollygirl, Given these facts, please provide a justification of who is the true beneficiary of public education?
You are hysterical. There is enough money to give increases to the teachers who remain. There was enough money to take back the cuts that the union agreed to. There is money when CUEA says so. And then she says "Had the teachers accepted the BOT decision, it would mean that they could lose all bargaining rights in the future. As the economy worsens, we are seeing less and less of those rights " The previous board wasn't threatening anyone's "bargaining rights". That is illegal in California. The economy has worsened for many but not for teachers. Your salary increased last year, right Lori? http://www.ocregister.com/news/school-339746-year-pay.html?appSession=37490133418929&RecordID=8310&PageID=3&PrevPageID=2&cpipage=1&CPIsortType=desc&CPIorderBy=DISTRICT&cbCurrentRecordPosition=3#article-data But it is all for the children, please!
Here is true irony. The previous board was working to save teachers' jobs and to prevent CUSD from the disaster we are now facing. The current board is just doing as they are told by CUEA.
You know the election was in 2008, the lawsuit was settled not shortly after the election but over a year later. For grins, why don't you tell us how it should have been handled? And you also know Reardon has only sued the district once, for a Brown Act issue and that he cannot benefit financially from that lawsuit. So which is it; compulsive liar or lying stooge?
The BOT wanted to make additional cuts to spread out over more teachers’ salaries instead of less over fewer teachers’ salaries. So if they cut a percentage point more than what the CUEA wanted, more teachers’ positions would have been saved. That is why I think the CUEA has established a class warfare from within. But I think at this point, we may just have to agree to disagree. Class sizes…it is negotiated in the collective bargaining agreement, but there will have to be waivers, agreed. Teachers’ pay: We can argue until the end of time what a teacher is worth. Some are teachers, surrogate parents to kids, cheerleaders at their students’ athletic events and performances, and the face of the school. Others can’t wait for 230 pm, so they can get in their cars and bail. They show up just in time for class with little preparation for the day’s activities. And until the teachers’ unions get behind merit pay and performance based incentives, it will continue to spiral into an unresolved debate. But I am going to challenge you on your “I am not paid for vacation or holidays” comment. You are paid in 10 or 12 (your choice) EQUAL installments based upon your YEARLY salary. If it were true that you don’t get paid for holidays, then your April check would be about 75% of your normal gross pay, and your December check (paid in early Jan) would be about 50% because of the holidays.
I get that NOBODY wants to take a pay cut because it affects his way of life. But considering the tradeoff between all of these items listed, you still have better than a lot of people in OC and absolutely better than your RIF’ed brethren waiting to get that call saying, “We have a spot for you.” Now, how about the settlement comment? Are you ready to get off that talking point about corrupt BOT’s handing out goodies to campaign contributors?
Second, the salary info is misleading as posted. You have no idea whether Lori taught summer school, an after school class or took on some other responsibilities of leadership which require time spent after her regular school day. Teachers get paid for that. Third, Lori is a frequent contributor to the Patch pages. She writes informative and respectful columns on how parents can support the school succes of their child. If you browse through them you will have a better idea of the caliber of person you are attacking. It would be great if you would confine your comments to your own opinions without degrading someone else. And when you address Lori, who posts under her own name, you might even consider coming out of the cave and post under your own. And, yes, before you say it, I am back in that cave as well. I used my own name until I was cyber stalked and threatened by someon you probably know.
Gotcha!
Salary is determined by the contracted time and placement on tha salary schedule, which are both clearly defined in the contract, and it does NOT include holidays or summer. Teachers are paid equal installments as an accounting practice ( which makes it easier on both parties). I won't bother to argue the point of time spent by teachers...that has been done so many times and we will never agree. I know what Lori knows about how much time is spent. So does my family. So does my daughter, who is also a teacher...and so does her husband. I would be happy to compare jobs (and salaries) with anyone who will do it away from an anonymous blog. I believe teachers are completely worth their salaries and more. Sick days...really? Most teachers accrue them and never use them...except for those bad flu years. Some are not so lucky and use them every year...lots of exposure in the classroom until you build up immunities after about 10 years or so. If you question whether teachers are susceptible to more than most...ask a doctor. I can't speak for the private sector...but then neither can you. There is a vast variety of benefits there and I am over hearing people try to lump them all together. These are indeed tough times for everyone...including teachers.
PS When you refer to appalling behavior, are we to assume that you are speaking of your aptitude for spelling or your lies?
Are you refusing to adhere to Julianna's request for civility? And the truth is never intimidating.
Could you post a link to that agreement. I have been unable to find it and you are so good at linking.
Should we discus the differences in retirement plans? Maybe a different time because your head will explode when you find out how much better teachers have it than most. If your opening comment is something like, "Well, teachers pay for their retirement too and they dont get to collect SS", I will crush that argument like a bug.
A good private sector job for a professional engineer or middle manager with 4-6 years of college in a responsible position with 5 to 7 years of experience looks like: - $85,000 per year (salary, exempt from overtime provisions) - bonus based on performance, generally not to exceed 15% of base - 10 days paid vacation until 5 years, 15 days thereafter (rarely 20 after 10 years) - 5 sick days annually (not usable for any other purpose) - medical for employee only (dependents are covered at employee cost) - full-time status is 2080 hours / year - 401K (employee contributions are matched at 20 to 50 percent up to 6 percent of salary by employer) - pension: none, except Social Security - seniority status: none - tenure: none - sabbatical leave: none - education reimbursement: limited to $5000 per year (but no time off), or none - life insurance: $25,000 - $50,000 - disability: rare - dental: very basic, if at all - maternity leave: by statute - paid holidays: 9 per year Since late 2007, there has been downward pressure on this compensation each year and this pressure continues to this day.
Very accurate. I would tinker with Sick Days - Usually 6 or 7 401K - Your figures are probably high at this point because many employers have curtailed or slashed this benefit to save money. I have seen as high as 80% up to 6% but the contribution was matched with only company stock. Other than that, very well laid out.
The thing that bothers me is that we've allowed the private sector to chip away at benefits in the name of profits and so because unionized workers have it better then there is something wrong. This is backwards, we should be asking why has it gotten so bad in the private sector, where have the longer vacations gone, where have the pensions gone? The teachers will have to take a pay cut, but the district budget has been cut year over year, the reason teacher's salaries are such a big percentage of the budget is because of the fact that so much has been cut in prior years. This is a travesty that our schools are taking such a hit and a shame but it shouldn't be about pitting teacher's against parents, teacher's against the board, etc. This has to be figured out in a cooperative manner.