I want to take a moment to stop in the hectic race in which we are all engaged – to once again thank you for your participation and comments on this blog. Our statics (both with viewership and comments) have gone up dramatically – hopefully because you find it helpful. A number of you have commented, that I am NOT responding to your comments, and therefore concluded that no one hears. I want to assure you, that is NOT the case, I am reading them all with great interest – along with many other people. I would obviously have to give up my day job to respond to all the comments in a thoughtful manner and it really is not the protocol for this forum.
The original plan, which you are making successful, was to provide a place for discussion and dialogue to so that LOTS of us can watch, listen, and participate – even anonymously if that is the preference. That is happening. I know that when I / you write on a blog sometimes it feels like the proverbial “if a tree falls in the forest, will there be sound if no one is there to hear it?” Please let me assure you that your comments, dialogue, and engagement are making a difference and is HEARD. Obviously, there is also debate between some of you as you agree and disagree with each other – making the points more clear and profound.
I do not like and sincerely regret the times that we are engaged in; however, I hope that you find that this “blog practice” is something that has value now – but more importantly as we go forward into the future.
Thanks,
Rick
I do appreciate reading the information that you post in your blog and also some of the comments made. I am worried that the connection between Management, Certificated and Classified will become even more dysfunctional as time goes on though. It seems that everyone taking a percentage pay cut would be a better way to cut costs than some groups taking huge cuts and others not taking any. Although lay-offs are awful the cuts that are taking place with Administrators and Classified (including lay-offs) seem one-sided. The teachers seem to be stalling so all the cuts can come from other places and not them. We should all bear the same burden no matter what your job is in education. It is a team effort to provide education to students and services to their parents. The cuts in pay should also be a team effort. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am confused by the previous comment. 250 teaching jobs have already been cut and it is my understanding that 100 more teaching jobs will be taken to the board tonight to be cut. The amount of money that these cuts save the district is huge. How are we teachers stalling? If you are meaning agreeing to furlough days, in addition to the 350+ jobs, I think that would cut deeper than both the cuts made to administration and classified. I agree with the statement that it is a team effort and a more equal cut to all would have been the best solution, but the district has not proceeded in that manner. And frankly with dealing with 2 unions, I am not sure they could have proceeded any other way. Cuts hurt and quite often are taken personally, but we need to remember that humans are making decisions and can not always foresee the impact those decisions have on the whole.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dr. Miller for keeping this blog going. It is a great way to connect with others in the district. It even helps to know that I am not alone in the way I am feeling. I also appreciate knowing that you do read the comments and consider the ideas given.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget how many more teachers there are than there are Classified or Management. If you were to lay off as many in those two categories as in the Certificated category then it would be only teachers running schools and also teaching in the classroom. Quite a burden for the teachers. Once again, when it comes to salary cuts it would be better if it was equal across the categories. Every person that still has a job should give up the same to stay!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to know that Dr. Miller reads the comments and they are not written in vane. We all have extra work that is hard to handle in all classifications and it is only going to get worse. Now, for the new year, we will need to regroup and some things that got done before will not be done now or maybe completed months down the road. It does no good to 'nit-pic' on each other's classification or job duties. It is hard on everyone with the additonal work. Just take a deep breathe and move on.
ReplyDeleteI know that some difficult decisions have to be made. There is no easy solution, but equal cuts across all categories is not fair when the cabinet gave themselves a generous 10% pay raise last year just a few months before they sent out RIF notices. Perhaps the most difficult decisions will be for the cabinet to cut their own positions and give up their own pay raise in addition to the "equal cuts across all categories."
ReplyDeleteRUSD teachers, on Thursday, our school is planning to place a chair outside the school to symbolize all the teachers on campus. All teachers who have been pinked are putting a pink t-shirt on it with their name. Our communities need to know which teachers are facing lay-offs! Parents have a strong voice, its time they know who this whole thing is really affecting!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with equal cuts across all categories! This should start at the top with the cabinet members leading our way by giving back the 10% pay increase and to cut a few positions just like certificated and classified have done the last few years. I, as a classified employee would rather work fewer days per year without pay to save my neighbors job and I think that by closing the district office in July or August would be the best solution.
ReplyDeleteIs it true that the cabinet members also received an increase this year on top of the 10% from last year? It seems that they should also be doing their part to help save jobs especially when they have 6 figure incomes. Even more true when I think of my lost job of $27,000 a year. Their last year's increase probably covered 3 to 4 employees in my range.
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