Tuesday morning I took a quick trip to Sacramento and met with the Governor's staff along with several other superintendents. NONE of us like the reductions we are taking in education and the ones that we are likely to take as the state continues to balance it's $20 Billion deficit beyond the Governor's January Budget proposal. Realizing that we are and will take reductions in educational funding -- we need to try and influence how we receive the "cuts" such that we can use them most effectively to meet the needs of our students and classrooms.
The Governor did stop by and one point and DID reiterate his commitment to protecting public education and students as well as possible with the least amount of reductions possible. Given the dire circumstances of the state budget and economy -- that is quite a statement -- which, given the circumstances, I am inclined to believe that is his intent.
Beyond all of that the discussion in and around the capitol, as we consider what our long-term issues are, continue to make the case that this situation is our "new normal" and it is unlikely that we will have a "rebound."
I am just wondering how laying off teachers will help with the budget issues when nearly all of the teachers being laid off (I think all but about 20) are tenured. It is my understanding that tenured teachers will have priority to be called to sub next year and will have to be paid their regular daily rate after 20 days of subbing. Since the days do not have to be consecutive and the pay is retroactive, isn't it likely that most of the tenured teachers being laid off will end up making their regular salry, or close to, anyways?
ReplyDeleteIn addition, some of the tenured teachers being laid off are higher on the pay scale because of credit for years in other districts. So, it might be their 4th year in RUSD, but they are on year 9 of the pay scale. If they were to sub for a teacher next year who is year 5 or 6 on the pay scale, they would get paid a higher daily rate than the teacher who is actually assigned to that classroom.
So, when the amount being saved by laying off 160 teachers was calulated, was the amount of increase to sub pay for next year subtracted from that? Perhaps that would show how much is really being saved by laying off teachers.
Amen to the above comment.
ReplyDeleteThat was my understanding as well. Is this going to be like a few years ago when a huge amount of money was to be saved by eliminating class size reduction and then it was realized that the saving were almost nonexistent? I know several people that have gone through this several times in the past few years. There has got to be a better way.
ReplyDelete5 years ago I left a very organized district to join RUSD. They made me sign a contract in January to ensure employment. Today my name was in a "LOTTERY" for a layoff notice! WOW! After 5 years of excellent evaluations and coaching, I am now a number that can be pulled out of a hat!
ReplyDeletePlease talk to us DR. Miller!!!
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing and reading about the fiscal mess and the Governor with his efforts to balance the budget. But what I don't read and hear are OTHER solutions to our financial problems. Is laying off 160+ teachers the only answer to our problems? Has RUSD even considered other ways to fix the problem? The reasons above mentioned are more that enough to consider other solutions. What about furloughs? What about reducing salaries? What about increasing employee contribution all across the board for insurance? just to mention a few.
I believe that RUSD is just taking the easy route. In my eyes RUSD believes that it is much easier to deal with 160 upset teachers than all of them.
Talk to us DR. Miller. Let us know if there are other solutions. At least give it a try. Don't make this our "new normal". Extraordinary times calls for extraordinary measures from extraordinary leaders not an "easy" way out.
Does it make sense to anyone that RUSD is cutting teachers (new teachers are sometimes the best ones out there) ? How does this make sense? How is this the best solution? Dr. Miller talk to us just like the above person stated. Think about how you are affecting thousands of kids. Maybe everyone in the district should go to a classroom for a week and take over and see what it's really about. I am so angry I want to scream and knock sense into RUSD. Maybe I wouldn't be so angry if RUSD wouldn't claim that students are their priority, because their actions show that is not the case. Also, I keep hearing there is no other solution, there is no other way for this economic crisis. But the truth is there are BETTER solutions. Maybe RUSD should set the example to other districts on how to deal with economic crisis by coming up with better solutions and making sure that NO teachers get laid off since teachers are the glue that holds the district together. Please listen and do something, please.
ReplyDeleteTake your anger out on your state government, not RUSD. In particular, go after Republicans who refuse to raise taxes to pay for basic services. Dr. Miller and the Board are not at fault, and why should other teachers lose monthly income, implying that their is "fat" in education funding? There is none; their is only a minority of conservatives who want to starve public education. March in the streets; write letters; organize and agitate to change the 2/3 rule to pass legislation in this state. Complaining to RUSD is not your answer.
ReplyDeleteok...you say that probably because your either part of the board or are a veteran teacher that is not affected by layoffs
ReplyDeleteThe comment about the state government is so true. The state legislature is criminally responsible for this mess-not our district. Having been a teacher here for the past 24 years, I have found that it has been a good place to work. The area that can and should be fixed by our district is the ridiculous amount of SCOE testing we elementary teachers have to expend instructional time on. This can be resolved by our district and it would save money to abolish it. However, when it comes to Sacto cutting education funds, our district has no control over that. We must lay blame where it belongs-on our state legislature. This is something the out-of-touch union leaders don't get. Instead of wasting time and money on inflammatory fliers about reserves that aren't there, and constantly telling us to call RUSD board members, they should be organizing and executing calls to state representatives. In times like these, our district and union should be of the same mind.
ReplyDeleteWhy do our union leaders make it so difficult for our administrators to get rid of employees who abuse the system in every way? It seems to me they enjoy putting a spin on everything.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are many employees that abuse the system. The worst part is that administrators can't get rid of them if they have been teaching for a long time. Yet, here we are laying off great teachers that actually do their jobs.
ReplyDeleteSounds to me like the new teachers on here think they are better than veteran teachers. That is exactly the type of thinking that will divide us instead of uniting us. As a veteran teacher, I am offend that the "new" ones think they are better(because you are younger?) Veteran teachers are needed because of all the experience they have working with students, obviously their background knowledge, and, of course, their committment to embrace new teaching methods and technological advances. Yes, Veteran teachers ARE far more qualified than the newer ones.
ReplyDeleteContinuing to rant and rave that you are better than veterans doesn't make me empathize with your situation. It makes me want to say "oh well." That's sad especially when I WAS willing to take furlough days for you, forget about it now.
Just to clarify, I think many teachers are angry with our government and the amount of money that they have taken away from our schools. We are not blaming RUSD for the budget issues, but we are upset at the way they are handling the crisis. Many would not be angry with RUSD at all if it felt like the leaders of the district were in this with us. They say they are doing everything they can to save jobs, but it doesn't feel that way. There has been no retirement incentive, no pay cut to the top end, no furlough days. So, when it comes down to it, it feels more like they only want to save jobs if it doesn't affect their job or way of life. They might feel bad, but in the end, they are not the ones trying to support a family without a job. So, yes, some people are angry with the decision makers in RUSD, not because they mismanaged money and put our district in this situation, but because, at the end of the day, those with pink slips have been made to feel expendable and an easy fix to a budget disaster. Many teachers who went through the RIF process last year know the feeling… the anxiety, the wondering, the lack of answers and communication, the making up rules as they go, the passing of the blame, the no sense of urgency…all resulting in the feeling that the only people who really care are your fellow teachers and friends. Now the same people are starting that process over again, this time with more time to worry about it. More time to put their heart and soul into a classroom where their services may not be “needed” next year. I don’t know what the answer is for our district, but if you get paid large amounts of money to be a leader, then step up and be a leader in a time of crisis. Leaders don’t just offer condolences; they find a way to protect their people.
ReplyDeleteI meant to write "offended" instead of "offend"--silly me. :)
ReplyDeleteWe have to look at educational funding in a new way, using a new paradigm. I would encourage old and young, classified and certificated union and management to come together looking for a solution which will serve our students now and into the future. In my opinion we need to look at the structure of pay across all classifications. I would encourage the unions to consider freezing steps for a couple of years or making the jump bigger between steps. I would encourage support for generous early retirement bound with a starting pay for interns and non credentialed teachers below that which preliminary and full credential holders get. Regardless of the solution, we will feel pain, but the goal should be change which will benefit the students now and into the future as opposed to quick fixes which need to be revisited yearly as the states financial crisis deepens. Lets not assume a return to the ways of the past when funding was readily available to meet education needs. Lets plan long term with the worst case in mind. Most importantly lets celebrate positive contributions made on behalf our students regardless of our job class or years of service. I have llearned a lot from great teachers and classified staff at RUSD with varied experience.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job to the one that said "Just to clarify..." I myself have been teaching for eleven years. I don't think anyone said that younger teachers *such as my fellow colleagues* think they are better than anyone. Perhaps what they are saying is simply it's not fair. I know as a veteran teacher myself that there are teachers who have been teaching for many years who should not be teaching.
ReplyDeleteTeachers who should not be teaching? How would you know who should not be teaching? Are you there observing daily in their classrooms? Are you an administrator? Are you an expert at who is great and who is not? Are you basing your judgement on test scores? Unite instead of divide.
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