Monday, May 21, 2012
"One size fits all"...sometimes doesn't fit at all
Someone in the previous thread mentioned that "one-size-fits-all" is not the best approach to dealing with the issues facing our district. Because we in D131 are diverse in backgrounds, economic resources, political views, etc. it is a good idea to explore multiple solutions to our unique challenges. Brainstorming, anyone?
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1 – 200 of 220 Newer› Newest»Now that the 131 offices are moving to the west side and there are rumors of west moving there too, is that the start of the districts consolidating into one? District 130?
Perhaps, District 260.
District 130 is in Blue Island. 260 might be available, though.
The Carson's building is on the East Side and yes West Aurora will have presents in that building along with d204.
I
The districts are NEVER going to merge.
The buildings alone on the east side are crap holes. To even get them up to minimal standards would take tens of millions of dollars.
The buildings on the East side should all be condemned. Whenever a school board members says they are impressed with one of our school buildings I want to throw up.
You talk about smart boards and computers but what about walls that aren't painted, or ceiling tiles falling down, or cracked windows.
Nobody would ever merge with 131 because it would take too much money to get it up to even minimal standards.
Keep dreaming morons.
West Aurora building are in bad shape also I worked at Jefferson it makes Waldo look like a palace.
I notice that Nestor Garcia's position will be changing from D131's Director of Operations to Director of Athletic and Student Activities.
His new salary will be $116,000.00.
Look for the bonuses and perks. I've heard the total salary will be around $130,000.
That was Nestor old salary they just need to state it because he changed positions
Comments on the new proposed employee contracts?
Do you really think Nestor is going to make less money? They are just trying to hide the cost of the new position. Just like they are not announcing the cost of the new High School Football Coach.
what's the word on the propposed employee contracts?
Here's a link to an article about D131 buying the old Central Catholic building (presently the Fred Rodgers center):
beaconnews.suntimes.com/12699114-417/east-aurora-schools-to-buy-community-center.html
Evidently we're paying 3 million to buy the building, plus another 7 million to renovate it, at a total cost of $10 million.
Did they settle? Working at Allen I am happy to hear they are getting a building we have a ton of kids on the waiting list for the Magnet school.
The word is the teachers are getting royally screwed (as always).
The teachers will be getting a cost of living increase. In other words, adjusting for inflation, no increase at all.
On the other hand, the district wants the teachers to teach significantly more time for it. The middle and high school teachers will be working an extra 85 hours, while the elementary school teachers will be teaching an extra 130 hours. All this for no real compensation.
In addition, teacher evaluations will be based primarily on student test scores and seniority no longer matters at all.
Tenure is also basically out the window. Piss off an administrator and that's all they have to do is give you two bad evaluations and they can fire you.
If the union is backing this crap, it's time for a new union. Who has that petition? You need to bring it to the meeting on the 29th. I will certainly sign it.
Collectively, in this district, we are paying the union over a million dollars a year to represent us. We are definately not getting our money's worth. They screwed us at the State level this year. They screwed us with our insurance this year and now they are screwing us with this contract.
If the union refuses to stand up for us, it's time we stand up for ourselves.
The district is going to pay $3 Million Dollars (in this building market) for a building that the city purchased for only $400,000???
This building was a school. The city spent millions of tax dollars to turn it into an office building and now the district is going to spend many more millions to turn it back into a school.
Am I the only person who realizes just how corrupt the system is here in Aurora???
Don't kid yourself the reason the evaluation forms hit like they did was the State changed the law.
Teachers will all be evaluated that way, however d131 must start faster than other districts because we are in the bottom 5%.
That means couple of points lower on the scores the State forces the District into a Turn-around model.
Turn-around models mean 50% of the staff gets replaced and everyone is forced to re-apply.
The Principals get fired and you know the Board will fire some of the Central Office so everyone is in panic mode.
School reform bills at the State got put through by our own Linda Chapa Lavia.
Not a perfect world but the one we live in
Here's a link to the AFT131 site, with the new (proposed) contract:
https://sites.google.com/site/d131aft/
Our union dues don't just pay for contract negotiations, they are supposed to pay our union leaders to protect our interests at the State Legislature and to support candidates that support us. If Linda Chapa Lavia is destroying public education, then the union should be supporting other candidates.
The problem is now that the Supreme Court decided that corporations are "People" with all the free speach rights of people, corporations are pouring unlimited amounts of money into our politicians pockets and using that money to destroy the unions and the rights of working people.
The District is currently land locked and had a new school quoted which for the same number of kids would have run 28 Million.
Remember under new construction you need water retention and green space. Their is no land that could have provided that unless the District would have built it on Church Rd. The land would have had to come from demolition of properties. Thus getting more property off the tax roles.
The Church Rd property was not in the middle of town. The Copley site needed 10 million of clean-up and demolition costs alone.
A rule enacted by the Board after the Wal-Mart mess did require a appraisal. The 3 million is what that value for a 60,000 square foot building.
Just reporting the facts. Unless you have a better solution.
Did the Board get an appraisal? Better yet did the City of Aurora get one?
The other thing I dont understand is are there really that many gifted students at East that requires the district to buy a building to expand the magnet program to 500? The test scores sure do not show that there is such a large amount of gifted kids are in the schools.
Magnet school students are not gifted. They are just students who do well in school and whose parents are willing to drive them to school.
No, the magnet kids are not necessarily those who do well in school (most are just as dumb as the the rest of the kids). They are simply the ones who's parents scream the loudest about how bad the schools are and want an alternative.
Many of the teachers at the magnet academy are still teaching in the other building or just came from those other buildings. None of the teachers that I've known to be transferred over there were any good.
Actually, the kids at the magnet school tested significantly higher this year than the other schools--so they must be doing something right. And some parents use the magnet school as a "Plan B" when their child has a problem (bullying, personality conflict with teacher, etc.)at their neighborhood school.
Like the original post said, one size doesn't fit all.
In the new contract I think there should be a section on expectations for professional conduct from the administration. It has become the norm for administrators to yell and scream at teachers with no recourse for the teachers. Turn the table and the teacher would be suspended. Should we not expect to be treated with respect, or have the teachers become the outlet for admins. that are having a bad day? Goodwill, respect, and common consideration goes a long way. Sugar not vinegar. We have a LOT OF VINEGAR in 131 admin.
I can't believe what I read today in the beacon news about Annette Johnson purchasing that building for 10 million (3 to buy and 7 to fix). Wasn't she the same person that spoke at the red and black send off saying she was saddened by this being the lowest graduating class in years and that we had no winning sports teams. Hhmm I wonder why is that. Oh maybe because all of our money is being spent on old buildings so they can stay empty she might as well purchase all downtown Aurora since its empty too. That's what is going to happen in the end when everyone moves out of d131 because rather than educate our kids or pay our teachers what they deserve we go buy old buildings. Goes to show what is more important in this district and to the leaders. A brick and a dollar before a child. Here's a quote I love to say "Children are the messengers we send to a time we will never see" too bad we're sending them into the future iliterate or just plan stupid. Oh well what can we do right like I'm always being told. Here's what I'm going to do I'm moving to the west side where they care about a child's education. They even brought back all day kindergarten. People need to get their priorities straight or get out.
Chicago Public School Teachers took to the streets today to show that they're NOT ok with their proposed contract. I SAY WE DO THE SAME THING. This is not ok. Pay for teachers on the East Side is significantly lower than other districts around and the fact that this board refuses to acknowledge that is ridiculous.
It's time to STRIKE!!!
Simmons had Marin Gonzales come to Simmons to ask teachers if there were any problems or concerns. A couple of teachers asked about what happened with Wilson Morales and his fight with a student some blocks away, nothing was said, except a very nervous Wilson looking down. Many teachers asked why teachers do not get copies of referrals they write. This prictice has been going on for years, teachers have no clue if any action is ever taken on referrals, all teachers are told during our faculty meeting are that referrals are down. Patterson pushed the blame on the dean assistants, really? it's the dean assistance fault. Never has Patterson ever excepted any blame for anything that goes wrong under her regimen. Biggest question was why is Marin there at all?, she is gone next week. Why did Marin bring Patterson, Morales and Young to all the team meetings?, certinly teachers were not going to express themselves with the vengeance of those three staring down on them. Questionable thought process on Marin Gonzales initiative.
I have to agree when you have an administration evaluate you there should be some else that does too. In this district where the administration likes to keep the kids in ELL because they get more money shouldn't be counted against the teachers.
One look at the new contract shows you that the administration and board have no respect for the teachers of this district.
If the teachers agree to this contract, they will still be the lowest paid teachers in the county but now they will also have the longest workday for the least amount of money.
If the union is supporting this contract, it is proof positive the union represents the district and not the teachers.
The Teachers do have it made and when it comes out that they are the lowest preforming and work the least the public will not be to happy. Just like the teachers in Chicago have been made the scape goats. The public no longer tolerates cry baby teachers.
Go on strike its not like the kids learn anything anyway.
The teachers got a good raise $1200 per year for each tier plus 1.85% this year.
$1200 next year plus 1.5%.
$1200 the following year plus 1.25%.
The District can not fix all the low salaries at once but for teachers up to about 5 years of service they are now making the same or more than other district.
The District needs a new school and paying 10 million verses 32 million is a saving to me.
But you probably went to d131 schools and can not figure out the difference between 32 million verses 10 million.
As far as the teachers let them go on strike or better yet quit so we get teachers who work the entire class instead of taking off 20 minutes early that is the norm at d131 because the parents will not complain
This is the same Nestor that was observed by more than one teacher and more than one time swimming in the East pool before school with his future bride, a student at the time. Anyone associated with paying this lofty salary should be embarrassed and ashamed to have anything to do with this district- homeowners, taxpayers, parents, faculty and keep going. It just never ever ends with 131. It's one thing after another and it never ends. The role of transitioning 8th graders to high school sports gets 116K? Sadly, its 131 and it makes it highly believeable. Keep up the good work central office. you make us proud- proud that no matter how bad of an issue arises and the bungling of handling it, you always manage to outdue yourselves
Didn't the district have to put retention ponds in two of the grade schools about 4 years ago because the state changed some law? so if they did that to the schools that we already owned how is it the building they want to purchase any different. How about how are the kids going to get there that live far away and the parents can't drive them?
The kids aren't learning? Well, teachers do all they can given the resources they have. At 2:45 and 3:05 the kids go home to uneducated parents who don't discipline their children and provide on-going learning activities for them. Many are druggies, many work 2 jobs and aren't home to make their children do their homework and many are uneducated deadbeats who complain about the district spending money on education.
The parents will complain when they lose their free babysitting service and have to watch their own children.
The teachers did NOT get a raise, they got a cost of living increase. In other words, factoring in inflation, they may have broken even (more clearly explained below).
On the other hand, the district is demanding 10% more work from the middle and high school teachers and more than 15% more work from the elementary teachers. It's a scam on the teachers. The district is demanding significantly more work and they want the work for free.
Another issue is that not everyone is getting the same percent increase. The teachers at the bottom of the pay scale start the first year with a 4.5% increase but that deceases each year after. The teachers at the top of the pay scale are are looking at pay increases of about 2% - 2.5%.
So there will be some teachers who are given a 2% increase (really a pay cut because it doesn't even meet cost of living) and will be expected to work 15% more for it. This in the same year that they lost their tenure rights and had their good insurance replaced with a half a$$ed company most doctors have never even heard of. Oh and don't forget, everyone's income taxes also went up 67% this year. That was on top of the other 125 different tax and fee increases passed by the state this year.
We are paying the union more than a million dollars a year to protect our interests. They are not doing their job. We are not getting the representation that we are paying for.
It is time to strike and we should do it in front of Linda Chapa Lavia's office.
And the State wants to cut our pensions as well.
From the Beacon
PLAINFIELD — Educators past and present had a message for Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross on Wednesday evening in front of his downtown Plainfield office: Hands off our pensions!
Holding signs that read, “I paid. You promised. Don’t Cut” and “Pension broken promises,” approximately 100 teachers rallied on Lockport Street. Educators United for Strong Public Schools and Northern Illinois Jobs With Justice also hand-delivered a petition to representatives in Cross’ office.
Education leaders said they want lawmakers to address viable pension funding solutions instead of pension cuts. Petitions delivered to Cross staffers also called for elected officials to hold public town hall meetings before voting for legislation that would ultimately affect teachers.
Organizer Joni Lindgren, a retired teacher from Elgin, said she offered to phone Cross herself, but staffers said he was on the House floor.
“We don’t get Social Security. A pension is a promise, and they need to honor that,” Lindgren said.
Dennis Grosskopf, a high school teacher from Minooka, said legislators are set on passing a pension bill without hearings.
“I teach American government. The legislative process is supposed to include public input,” he said. “If something’s changed, someone needs to let me know.”
He said this isn’t a pension crisis, but a funding issue that the state“has refused to fix for decades.
Joanna Abbattista has taught kindergarten at Old Post Elementary in Oswego for five years.
“Even though it doesn’t affect me yet, I want to support the teachers that are retired now because that will be me one day,” she said.
Dick Krase of Oswego, a retired regional superintendent for Grundy/Kendall counties, said it’s the state that hasn’t paid its fair share, not the teachers.
“They screwed up,” Krase said. “If they were in private practice, they’d be in jail right now.”
Ellen Poplawski, another Oswego teacher, said she has paid 9.4 percent of her paycheck into her pension for 28 years.
“It’s the businesspeople who are the driving force against teachers,” she said. “Money still talks in politics, and teachers are not where the money went.”
Plainfield Central English teacher Greg Bouchard said proposed pension cuts are illegal.
“We should be suing them every year. Quinn is starting to backstab our union leadership,” he said.
The Plainfield rally was the third area event in which Northern Illinois teachers have focused on House and Senate members of Gov. Pat Quinn’s pension reform committee. On May 4, teachers rallied in front of State Sen. Mike Noland’s office in Elgin. On May 17, teachers marched in front of State Rep. Darlene Senger’s office in Naperville.
Other rallies have been held in Orland Park and Peru.
How much of a raise did Jerome get with his new contract? Shouldn't the teachers all get at least that same raise?
S-T-R-I-K-E
VOTE NO ON THE NEW CONTRACT! It's time for us to stand up for what is right!!!
Superintendent Pay in the Fox Valley.
Notice that Jerome is coming in at $241,049 per year, all in. Very comparable to other sups in the area yet teacher pay on the East Side is dismal!
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/12228259-418/super-salaries-school-districts-offering-big-bucks-to-attract-top-candidates.html
Here are the salaries District 131 has paid Jerome Roberts since he came back to the district in 2004/2005.
2005 $100,000 (1st year no increase)
2006 $126,000 (26.0% increase)
2007 $191,417 (52.0% increase)
2008 $193,996 (1.4% increase)
2009 $205,634 (6.0% increase)
2010 $217,973 (6.0% increase)
2011 $235,128 (7.9% increase)
2012 $253,726 (7.9% increase)
That is an average of a 15.3% increase every year since his return.
Another way of looking at the numbers, Jerome Roberts is currently making 154.0% more now than when he began just 7 years ago.
Vote NO on the new contract and demand to see the votes being counted. Don't trust the Board, Administration and Union Leaders to go behind closed doors and then report the result of the vote.
Here is one more way to look at Jerome Roberts raises over the past 7 years. His average raise has been $21,960.86 per year.
And don't forget the last time the teachers got screwed on their raises. The administrators all year long stated that there was no money and their salaries were frozen. Once the teacher raises were resolved, all the administrators got huge raises with retroactive increases back to the beginning of the year.
Wow!!!!! Jerome has gotten an average $22,000 a year raise and no one is asking him to do any more work for it? In fact, since Annette Johnson took over, she has him doing less and less.
!!!!!VOTE NO!!!!!
I don't know where they got their information from but Roberts total compensation according to the district website is $253,726.22 and that is last years not this year they are always a year behind.
With this being a low income district every employee should realize that you are not going to be paid as much as one that isn't but should be paid a fair wage.
It seems that finally the public sector is getting hit just like employees that don't work for the government. Many have not got raises or cost of living for years. They have had their pensions frozen are paying more for their insurance now. Welcome to the real world.
What you need to ask is if he deserve those raises or if the board is giving it to him so the president can run the district and not the superintendent.
Jerome is the lowest paid someone should ask the famous Anie Thompson a Simmons and West Aurora Borad member why she voted in special session to give her Superintent a raise of $319000.00 per year. Sound like Jerome is in the same boat as the teachers underpaid
So why have th lazy teachers at east not turned in heir grades kids are bing told this afternoon they don't graduate. Families came for far away to see first generation kids shame on the teachers
Then the kid should have worked harder you moron. What a stupid comment. You have no clue what you are talking about.
Annie is part of the problem, she knows Rydland is a pension whore and still supports his pay increases which in turn will make his multiple pensions even more whoreish.
The reason things are the way they are in what you call the "real world" is because the average people in this country are sheep who refuse to stand up for their own rights and so the billionaires keep getting richer as the rest of us struggle for the crumbs.
The reason the country is broke is because we said nothing as our politicians gave trillions of tax payer dollars to bail out the banks and companies that gambled so they could make even more money. These same corporations and billionaires are the ones attacking your salaries and pensions because they want to make even more billions.
Look at gasoline. Gas prices first went up to $4 a gallon when crude oil had spiked close to $150 a barrel. Crude is now under $90 a barrel and you are still paying around $4 a gallon. And the oil companies are raking in record profits.
Whether you realize it or not, we in the USA now live in an Oligarchy (a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few). These "Elites" work in a world with impunity. They break laws without fear of prosecution and the rest of us pay the price for it. They control our political and media systems and so, control us.
That is why the average CEO in this contry makes 700 times the amount of money that the average worker makes.
Others are starting to wake up in this (and other) countries. You see it when they refer to the 1% and the 99%. The 99% are the masses who are getting screwed so the 1% can control the wealth of the world. In this country the top 1% control over 90% of the wealth. The other 99% fight for the scraps that are left.
Here's a fact for you. The top 400 richest people in the USA control more money than the bottom 150,000,000 people do. As long as we keep fighting ourselves, the situation we now live in will never change.
You are the moron probably one of those overpaid teachers
Why didn't the parents of the kid take more time and watch if he had enough credits. The student should be making sure he has enough.
Here is maybe helps Rydland get more money not that I'm saying he should. If you go to their website there is information about the money they are not getting from the State. I believe he even went to Springfield to lobby about it. He went our on a limb a couple of years ago and made sure the students going to the schools where residents of the West side. He runs the district how it is suppose to be done by following board policies and not letting the president run it and he doesn't hide behind his PR person.
When would you like the grades entered?
May 24, 2012 10:16 PM -truer words could not have been spoken. You made your point, excellently!
To put it into a local perspective, those in the 99%- the likes of Ms. Johnson, Roberts, et al believe they are part of the group of controllers looking down on this district and acting as if they are doing us a favor by being here.
Demand to see the votes being counted in your buildings and report the total counts here and every other public venue you can find.
Don't let them hide the votes away and count them in secret. Demand transparency from your union.
Don't trust them when they count the votes in secret (with the administration and board) as they have done in the past.
The way we run elections and voting in East Aurora even has the politicians in Chicago going "Damn these people are corrupt".
Don't forget, we had to rerun an election a few years back because the State Election Commission determined the way the votes are counted in East Aurora was illegal.
It time for a change. VOTE NO
Is anyone going to speak up at the meeting for the teachers/union? We need to get the majority to vote NO on this new contract.
The only reason the board will not move on teacher pay is because they know the teachers won't strike, so they hold all the cards. If we vote NO they have no other choice but to go back into negotiations and will hopefully send Annette Johnson to shake in her oversized boots.
This is a classic case of her bullying to get her way. The union is 1,500 members strong in EA, we need to send her a message that she cannot mess with our lives.
The raises for teachers in the new contract show no effort whatsoever to attempt to compensate even close to what neighboring districts are paying their teachers.
If we're making it easier to get rid of the bad teachers through evaluations, etc. we should reward the good ones through better pay...
Here's another 1%/99% fact. Does anyone really think teacher salaries are really the problem in this country?
Top CEO pay equals 3,489 years for typical worker
AP WASHINGTON -David Simon of Simon Property received a pay package worth more than $137 million for last year...according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
Here are some ways to think about just how much money that salary represents.
Simon's $137 million is almost entirely in stock awards that could eventually be worth $132 million. The company said it wanted to make sure Simon wasn't lured to another company.
HOW LONG IT TAKES OTHERS TO MAKE THAT MUCH: A minimum wage worker — paid $7.25 per hour, as some workers at Simon malls are — would have to work one month shy of 9,096 years to make what Simon made last year. A person making the national median salary, $39,312 by AP calculations, would have to work 3,489 years.
BY THE HOUR: Assuming Simon worked a 60-hour week, his pay was $43,963.64 per hour, or $732.73 per minute. To put that in perspective, the minimum-wage worker would have to labor for nearly three years to make what Simon earns in an hour. The average U.S. worker makes slightly less in one year than Simon makes in an hour.
COMPARED WITH AMERICA'S CEO: Simon makes about 342 times the $400,000 annual salary of President Barack Obama. In fact, if you add the salaries of Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, the Cabinet, the Supreme Court justices, all the members of the Senate and House of Representatives and all 50 governors, it is less than $110 million, so Simon makes well more than government's top 600 leaders. In the past 100 years, U.S. taxpayers have paid a total of $80.6 million, adjusted for inflation, to presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Obama.
I don't know about your union but ours have members present when they are counting and I don't believe any board member or administration should be around they have nothing to do with this. I would do a search and see if there are any kind of laws governing this.
Senior Finals took place Monday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 22. Senior Grades were due by Wednesday, May 23 at 12:00pm.
If a student has junior status, and needs all credits to obtain senior level in order to graduate with his/her rightful class, that's his/her fault. That is due to 3-4 years of lack or responsibility, not because the teacher is allowed the time needed to grade final work & tests.
Are any of your bills due the day they were mailed? No, you are allowed time to pay, as we are allowed time to grade.
No see the blog wants it so that senior grades were due last week or something so that the seniors then don't have to be held accountable for anything their last week of school. Yeah, that makes sense.
Maybe your dumb kid should have worked harder at the beginning instead of just at the end.
"the blog wants it"
I love how some people think this blog is one person, with one opinion. Seems to me what "the blog wants" is all over the map, depending on the day & hour.
!!!!!VOTE NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
The Urban League is on the PR campaign. Due to all the negative press and the schools, except East, pulling out because of its sickening performance.
It is nothing more than a sham outfit run by the mayors girl.
Theodia represented the Urban league and was introduced at graduation as one of the EA schools. I was under the impression that the Urban League was a privately owned business. No one represented Hope Wall or Fox Tech and they also have EA students. I guess Annette Johnson is rubbing this in the public face.
I been around long enough to know that our membership is not going to do anything but roll over and take it. Craig will be the first to kiss Madam Presidents ring and thank her for allowing us to be in her presence and work in her district. All hail the Queen
Graduation 2012
As a teacher and long term employee of d131and East Aurora High School I want to set the record straight.
I also want to comment on how I was sadden by last evenings events.
A student was not told until last evening he could not graduate. He fell through the cracks and in fact was informed by Conrad's secretary. as he stood crying in his cap and grown.
I am sure we could say he should have been more on top of things but I know this boy has a mother that does not care.
The week has been a mess we needed to calculate final grades on a new student system called Infinate Campus.
This was a big learning curve. That coupled with running finals through Tuesday gave teachers no time to grade finals and learn the grade book.
Not one administrator, even questioned the lack of leadership from Conrad.
It's the kids fault.
How the hell do you KNOW everything you posted. "Not one administrator" you know that for a fact.
It's the kid's fault--
It's the administration's fault--
It's the parent's fault--
All the above. There's plenty of fault to go around. The important thing is, what can be done to help this kid graduate? Can he take a summer course and get his diploma in August? Maybe go the GED route?
It's more productive to find a positive solution than point fingers of blame.
The KID needs to figure out what to do. He is a big boy now. He needs to stand on his own two feet.
...With guidance and help from caring adults.
How many of us were able to "stand on our own two feet" & be fully-functioning adults at age seventeen or eighteen? I know I wasn't, and neither were my own kids. But with support (financial and emotional), my kids are now college graduates and productive members of society.
Students' success is a TEAM EFFORT. The vast majority of today's 17 and 18-year-olds are still immature and in need of help from those of us who "know the ropes".
Theodia at graduation funny maybe she needed to give Jerome some cash back. Funny huh!!! Word is Latz was told to find more kids and make up the money. Meanwhile Hull was introducing her to Leonard and talking up the great program. Stella and Maryanne had a drink in their hands. Sorry ladies a dry party.
And yes, if that happened to the student maybe Roberts and Johnson could put aside laughing it up and fixing each other robes to help out. Interesting how they seem to show up together all the time. Maybe Jerome needed his speech wrote after all he never says anything without Johnson. Last night was no exceptition he told the kids to be ambassadors who always says that .
What did Hull say about the program ? sounds like you were within an ear shot
The funny thing is that the kids aren't actually handed a diploma at graduation, anyway. They're handed a piece of paper, and don't get the real diploma until they go inside and make sure all their obligations are met (library fines, etc.). When it's that late, let the kid walk thru graduation, get the non-diploma, then let him know he needs to go to summer school. Heck, when my daughter graduated from college she had one more class to complete, and they still let her go thru graduation with her classmates.
I heard about several students week and the boy last night. As a teacher at East last week was trying Our new Asst Principal thinks she is the Infinate Campus expert. That certainly is not true she did not provide support and. Conrad scheduled Monday and Tuesday as finals that met teachers had to grade tests and learn to calculate final grades on a new system. That was to much and there was not enough support to get questions answered.
Conrad never leaves her office and the other three are not building leaders. For whatever people said about Harmond and Wilson they provided leadership.
Te kids did suffer this year during graduation and calling them names on this blog does not help
"calling them names"...
Looking back over this thread (and the past several, for that matter), I don't see any kids being called names.
Are you perhaps confusing this blog with another (Openline, maybe?)
I can't wait until you "teachers at East" are gone that have problems with infinite campus.
It was simple to enter grades. Most of the teachers had no problem at all.
Don't make it sound like this new program is the problem. The problem is you teachers who don't like change or aren't smart enough to use a computer.
These teachers bitching on here are the ones that need to go.
My son's college, also, let him graduate with his class,though he was a short on the requirements. He came back and completed them by Decemeber of the following year.
As for the negativity towards the students, I ignore it, I think that it is 1 or 2 people that use the blogs as a social outlet for their amusement and frustrations. To acknowledge them,gives substance to their foolishness.
The words stupid kid is not negative
9:40 and 5:56 are both right.
5:56 is right in that I also don't recall seeing kids actually called names on this blog, and that people being called names not only isn't unusual on Openline, it seems to be standard operating procedure (and I suspect why Openline started his blog in the first place -- so he can call people names w/o taking any responsibility for it).
Now 9:40 is right in spirit if not in fact. I haven't seen specific kids called names, but there are A LOT of comments on this blog that insult and tear down East Aurora kids in general. Even when the administrator tries to get something positive going, within just a few posts we're back to people tearing down everybody associated w/ the district, including administrators, teachers, and, yes, the kids. When you say the band, or the football team, or the drama department, or any other program sucks, you're also saying that every kid involved in that program sucks. All the negativity insults and hurts the kids, and demotivates everybody, causing a downward spiral. It seems the majority on here would rather tear it down than to improve it and build it up. "It" being the schools, programs, AND the kids.
"stupid kid is not negative"--
It's not especially positive either. But there's nothing wrong with mentioning both the good AND bad in our district, especially since much of the negative is attempted to be swept under the rug.
Nothing is swept under the rug we operate under a committee structure unlike most other districts. You can read any reports you need to. There are many changes happening but the people on this blog are to narrow minded to see it.
People are individually attacked on this blog for no reason. That would include the blog master but now she has control because she posts the comments she wants.
Comments about children happen all the time I remember the posts about the board members kids. That is wrong.
Look at the mess in Oswego yet they never get subjected to this attack.
The blog master claims it is for information. Ask yourself what information do we gain.
I wouldn't call things like the bullying incident at Simmons or the proposed teacher contract "nothing". With the local online papers going to a pay format, it is becoming even more difficult to get D131 news in a timely manner--and by "news", I mean the stuff our administration doesn't want to mention (basically, anything that criticizes our district or reminds administration of less-than-stellar decisions).
As always, if something negative is posted you can challenge what is said with your own evidence/viewpoint/experience.
Here's a link to information about some wonderful summer programs:
www.cisaurora.org
Now that school is almost out, parents have an opportunity to enroll their elementary and middle-school kids in drama, sports, reading, and arts programs throughout the city. Parents, pick up the ball & take advantage of this!
May 27, 2012 4:14 PM-Looks like Annette Johnson or Anita Lewis are making comments about themselves once again!
The problem with D131 stems from administration, to teachers, to parents and to students. No one is to be blamed for completely because everything is interconnected. Yet, part of the problem can be solved by starting to fire all of the incompetent people that run D131 (teachers and administrators) with a broom!
Saw the band in the Memorial Day parade, looked and sounded GREAT!
Not only the band, but our Tomcat wrestling team, NJROTC, Bardwell cheerleaders, and D131 staff float. Our district was very well represented today!!
Waldo was also there marching a the only middle school in Aurora.
Can't wait to see & hear our combined D131 bands at the Fourth of July parade! Our district Band Camp is indeed a grEAt program for our kids.
Speaking of the EHS band, they'll be going to Orlando next week.
It's nice to see that proud tradition started back in the 20th century continue into the second decade of the 21st century. Best of luck and have fun in Florida!
The Waldo band was the only middle school band in the parade, period. None of the several D129 middle schools marched, nor did any of the D204 middle schools that feed into Waubonsie Valley H.S. (although the WVHS band did march).
Im pretty sure that is what I said. The only middle school band in Aurora that marched was Waldo.
And the only cheerleading squad that marched was Bardwell; the only barbershop group was Lamplighters; the only Cub Scout troop was from Holy Angels. There are probably many other "only" examples I'm forgetting about.
What is your point, 2:00/2:34 p.m.?
The informational meeting about the latest contract offer is Tueasday 4:00PM at East High. Make sure to let your union leaders know that the contract is ridiculous and we expect to see the vote being counted in every building. Remember to:
!!!!!!VOTE NO!!!!!!
Demand better for the millions of dollars we pay this union. We deserve more than the longest hours, most challenging students and lowest pay.
and secretaries getting even less of a raise than the teachers, and we were told to 'get to the meeting when we can' since many of us aren't done until 4:00.
Yes! EA was well represented and represented well in the parade today. Proudly as Veterans more sadly so as fallen soldiers.
On a more positive note- a safe and enjoyable trip is wished to the EAHS band in Orlando this year. Wishing band camp another successful year. Whether EA was the 'only' group or not-it was grEAt to see them participating.
It does a Tomcat heart proud! :)
Don't forget, the custodians are getting royally screwed as well this year. The district demanded $100,000 worth of concessions from the custodians or they threatened to hire an outside custodial service.
When the tax payers find out we have $60,000 secretaries they may ask the board for a reduction. Better take what you can get. Yes sadly that is what the Asst Sup's secretaries make
You don't have to vote no as some moron suggests. But you should come to the meeting and get the answers to your questions and then vote how you want.
Please don't vote blindly or with anger. Vote with truth and knowledge.
We are not voting blindly (but perhaps with some anger, as we should have when we are being screwed over by the district). We have seen the contract and we see what the administration is demanding and what compensation (or lack thereof) we can expect for our labors.
The only thing we haven't received as yet is the unions spin on this crap. I can tell you right now what we are going to hear. "We have worked long and hard for you over the past 16 months and feel this is the best deal we are going to get from the district". The same crap we hear with every contract.
I can tell you right now. There have never been any real negotiations in District 131. The board comes in and says take it or leave it and the union always says yes. The only difference this time is that Joan Glotzbach has been more condecending than normal with our representatives. Making comments like "let me put this in little words or say it more slowly so that even you can understand it".
I know it's infuriated our negotiation team but they don't even stand up for themselves (let alone us). The only way we are going to get compensated for our work is if we stand up and demand it for ourselves.
Just remember, under Illinois Law we have a right to strike and can not be terminated for exercising these rights. The school year must have a minimum number of days. We will receive no less pay, the worst that happens is that we miss a check during the strike. We will receive all back pay.
I too will be voting "NO" to this horrible contract.
Yes the teachers should be mad over paying secretaries and giving them more sick days. maintenance workers because of the over time policy making more than teachers.
The past board board had several members on it that had relatives working for the district as secretaries or maintenance people.
I remember when Dee and Rayanne questioned this and Roberts had everyone vote on contracts that had not been reviewed.
I also remember Fernando Salinas voting on a contract that his wife and sister in law gained on. In fact Gloria is one of those $60,000 secretaries.
The teachers do deserve more.
An educated union member is a dangerous thing! As a union member it is your responsibility to
1.Be informed
2. VOTE!
Those who have been elected to represent you, should act according to the outcome of the vote.
Unless what Rhodes said at the assembly was 'tell me what you want by posting on the blog'
The trend for over paid secretaries started when a secretary's husband was a member of the Board and had input and voted on his wife's union contract.
As a district leader, it is their job to make cuts every place they can. They will take from the employees and take and take until the employees finally stand up and say enough.
The district leaders know their role, unfortunately the union negotiating team doesn't know. And that is why we are getting screwed again and again and again.
Vote NO and demand to see the votes counted.
Here's a link to an article in the Beacon about D129's new "Professional Learning Communities" (PLC's), beginning with the 2012-2013 school year:
beaconnews.suntimes.com/12699575-417/working-together-works-for-west-teachers.html
Yes how silly training teachers for a job and taking 2 hours of class time away from the kids. The d129 Superintenent should be fired. Teachers are there to teach not support each other on how to do their job
I think it's worth a try. If it produces good results, then it should be continued.
Good for D129 for being willing to try something that has worked well in other districts.
Yes you can strike but that would be after any attempt would be turned down by the district. So if the teachers choose to do that they will just be getting younger members lay off notices. The district must keep 6 months of reserves and the State just cut 4.5 million.
Remember the referendum money is there but they can only spend 4% per year so it is not really available for raises.
Also the contract takes care of new hires $1200 per year for three years plus1.85%. The public will not feel sorry for the teachers they just saw their taxes go up and he schools are in the bottom 5%
We've heard this crap before and as soon as the teachers concede everything, the money always appears. Just like last time the administrators found money to give themselves huge retroactive raises back to the beginning of the year.
We've got ten million dollars for for two new buildings including the maggnet academy and a new Service Center for the administrators and board to park their A$$es. We've got 8 million dollars for a new football stadium but we don't have money for the teachers of the district.
Don't believe the line of crap. The administrators have been bragging all year about the 65 million dollar surplus we have. The district has money, they just don't think it should be spent on the people doing the real work in this district.
!!!!!VOTE NO!!!!!
How is it they can buy a building and not give raises. I think the district should be investigated to see if they are really spending the money the way they should be.
I think the general EA public/ community will understand about the teachers request for wage increase. I am not a district employee and realize we all want make more money and have better benefits. Especially, when you see money being spent on things not directly related to 131 education or you see more money going towards admin and admin office staff and buildings w/o improvement in the EA education. EA teachers your community supports you and your efforts to make a decent wage and for dedicating your career on the frontline for our children in spite of the lack of support from your school board.
I have got the answer to this whole contract thing. We should no longer have teachers. They should be called facilitators! Since good teachers are really facilitators anyway.The district has no problem hiring them, paying them, giving them plenty of training, and perks. There you go, problem solved, its all about semantics.
I am very pleased with the raise I will make 4.67% more this year 4.25% next year and 3.9% the following year with no worry of being laid off. The teachers that are complaining have are near retirement. It also seems the district is rewarding teachers with new skills. So I will be voting yes.
A happy teacher at Simmons
Very few people were at the union meeting today. It couldn't have been more than 200 people out of the 1500 union members in the district. Most people I spoke to said "Why go to the meeting, I'm going to vote NO anyway".
Our leaders know it is a bad contract. They couldn't openly support it. Many questions by teachers were sidestepped or they would change the conversation to another subject. Craig Rhodes was even very rude and cut off a teacher who was asking questions about differentials. There were also many "facts" given by the union leaders that were incorrect.
Again if passed, before this contract is done, the teachers of this district will be the lowest paid, longest working teachers in the county. Middle school / high school teachers will be working an addition 85+ hours (2 1/2 weeks) and the elementary teachers will be working an additional 130+ hours (3 1/2 weeks). Some teachers are looking at a raise of only 1.86% and they will be working an addition 15% of time for it. This includes at least 4 nights required from every teacher.
There are no protections for teachers being harrassed by out of control administrators and teacher evaluations will be linked to student test scores. How this will apply to counselors or gym teachers has not been worked out as yet. There was also language about class sizes larger than 30 students. No guaranteed help for the large class sizes.
We have a long history of bad contracts in District 131. That is why any teacher working in District 131 would make at least $10,000 - $20,000 more working in any other district in the county.
Vote NO and demand to see the vote being counted. Don't forget to report your school vote totals here and every other public forum you can find. Don't let our vote be counted in back rooms any longer.
Interesting meeting tonight at East High. Not one teacher who spoke was happy over the extra time and little pay. One teacher asked why was the district getting so much and the teachers getting nothing in the contract. Biggest joke of the night came when some Johnson teachers have been suspended over allegations of abuse from students who have countless referrals on them which is similar to Bob Greens case. A Simmons gym teacher was suspended and fined $1500.00 for reporting a bulling case that put him on Principal Pattersons heat. Yet Wilson Morales get nothing for fighting a student down the street, some teachers were asked why? because his wife works for Roberts. That says plenty about this district. I'm glad not to work at those two schools and have principals work with us not out to get us.
What is up with Theodia Gillespe is she now a full time part of East Aurora Schools. She visited the middle school promotions today.
She must have her mug out there because her payoff day is coming with big $$$. Cathy Latez was forced to pull kids out of special ed and send them her way to keep the doors open.
You know the spineless Board will just say yes. Johnson is her good friend. Jerome gets free rent and Hull is employed at City of Aurora so all involved will keep the doors open for the Mayors girl. Maybe Minister Hull can come say a few prayers the next time they loss a student and he gets shot or gets beat up by a Wilson Morales husband of Lisa.
Funny how Lewis will not have her grandson be one of the 38 if the Urban League is so wonderful.
The teachers better dare not ask for another penny I was watching the news and it said local government in the form of local real estate tax would have to pay 6 2% of the teachers pension fund. Why at my job I pay into my own pension.
craig said last night that the magnet funds, etc. come out of different revenue sources. begs the question, who is going to staff those buildings and where is their salary coming from? if you can't afford the teachers you have, how can you afford more? (not to mention, books, computers, desks, etc. to make these new classrooms useable)
To the happy teacher at Simmons:
You are not getting a 4% raise, you are getting a 3% cost of living increase and a 1% raise. For that 1% raise, the district expects you to work an extra 10% in time.
It's simple math, you are losing 9%. And you will still have no protections from your bad administrators. By the way, how does it feel to have a child abuser as one of your school leaders? Are you still happy? I'm sure you are proud.
The magnet School funds doesn't not come out of another fund in fact if you remember they said it wouldn't cost the district anything, Look at the list of bills where the magnet school bills can be seen and it is with the school finds. The union president is full of it.
There must be somewhere else you can report these things about how teachers are reprimanded.
5:55 the teachers DO pay into their pension, something like 9 or 10%. That 6.2% you heard about in the story is the employer portion that the state is supposed to be paying but has not been, and is going to dump on the local taxpayers. Basically they're saying "yeah, we know we haven't been paying our share, so we're going to dump it on the locals and now it's THEIR problem." It's common for employers to pay some percentage into their employees' pensions; in every job I've had the employer has at least matched my contributions.
So here is the publics position:
All you teachers better shut your traps because in the end all the administration and taxpayers of the district have to do is start talking about the abismal test scores vs. teacher pay.
All you cry babies better take the deal and shut the hell up before the public starts to get restless and demands better academics and the firing of teachers and administrators. Think it won't happen? I can tell you people are right on the verge...
All you parents better watch out and start teaching your kids how behave in public, get their homework done on time and stop accepting D's from their kids.
You need to shut the hell up and be a part of the solution.
Contract was voted down.
Some teachers are achieving good test scores...... so no, I won't shut up.
Hey-May 30, 2012 6:01 PM
Maybe, just maybe you should work on your grammar, obviously you didn't score too high on the tests yourself.
As of 7:30 PM, looks like the teaching faculty have spoken. The contract has been voted DOWN. Good for the teachers for voting down the bullies.
We are not the maintenance staff Ms Johnson. Youl not bully us. Your lawyer friends are smiling all the way to the bank.
As a parent and educator in the district I am proud that we as teachers have come together in unity and voted a resounding NO! For many of us, it was not about our compensation, but how we are treated as professionals.
Last year at Simmons The school had 146 8th graders failing with 2 weeks to go, and by some miracle they all passed by doing some work packet the principals asked the teachers to give them. This year Simmons had just over 100 failing and what do you know! another miracle. How can this school shove students through after doing nothing for 175 days and all the students pass. I feel sorry for the high school getting these students who have no work ethic and parents who don't come in when their kids are ailing 3,4,5 classes. Don't anyone blame the teachers when principals at Simmons push everyone through and then suprise! drop out at the high school. What was the drop out rate at the high school this year? 51% Thank Simmons for these miracles.
You are right, teachers are treated extremely bad by some administrators, lets look at some. Johnson, Simmons and Waldo. The three worst run school in the district. When teachers are being written up, suspended and even reprimanded in front of their peers and students for nonsense. Yet the board does not recognize that these principals are abusing their power. I wish the teachers luck in their contract and the board needs to do more than spend millions on buildings for 5th street.
Dear May 30, 2012 6:01 PM You do not speak for the public. I am part of the "public", not a district employee and I am so happy for the union and hope their vote gets them the contract and respect they deserve, better than what they now have!
Miss Johnson has a misguided sense of control and thinks she can manipulate everyone, as she has with a few. She is anti organized labor and is an adult bully and has bragged about writing native comments on this blog. Surprise Madam President....you do not always get what you want, when you want it.
Congrats EA Teachers! The hard working families in this community know you are doing your best with what you have been given to work with by those who run the district.
I apolgize, I meant for the comment to say "bragged about writing negative comments"
As a teacher who goes to work everyday to nurture and bring the best out of each and every one of my students, all I can say is this blog truly breaks my heart.
The district will get what they want the scores are in he toilet the district is supported by State aid and a 4% raise today is big money the teachers will lose.
Because the teachers are so selfish and will not work a extra 15 minutes per day it shows they could care a less about the kids. Losers they are so lazy that is why they can't find another job and he kids re not learning.
I am so proud of the teachers in this district. More proud than I have ever been in all the years I've worked for District 131. We have taken the hardest step to improving the pay and working conditions for all the professionals in this district. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of rejecting the contract proposal. The vote was 30% for and 70% against.
We must keep the pressure on both the district and the union. Our voices must be heard and counted. Demanding to see the contract language before the vote (having the time to actually read and discuss it) and overseeing the vote count were the main differences.
We must now demand fair compensation for all the extra work the district wants from us. We must also demand that all conditions are spelled out clearly in the contract before we agree to it. There were way to many items that were going to be "worked out" in some committee after the contract or left to the administrators to decide. There must also be some accountability for administrators who have gone completely out of control.
We have a great start. We must now see it through to the end.
The following was sent out to all teacher's union members last night, from Craig Rhodes:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
You have spoken in a united manner that I have not seen in many, many years. My hope is that the Board and Central Administration are listening. The vote was overwhelmingly against the proposed CBA. The tally was 319 YES to 709 NO votes. This is a huge statement regarding the overall picture of things in the district, starting with working conditions and poor treatment received by those placed in the leadership roles of our buildings. I also believe it’s an indication that you as a professional want to not only be paid like one, but treated like one. Class size is a leading indicator for children when it comes to achievement. If we are serious as a district about achievement levels we should attack class size and school discipline with the vigor they do when it's a new program they want implemented. We as professionals understand that our children need and ask for immediate praise and discipline.
This vote return speaks loudly to those issues and more. When I first saw the results coming in I have to say I was disappointed at first because economically we felt it was fair. After reflecting on it a while I think that maybe it’s about time the message of our needs as educators finally get recognized. We have been vocal for a long time now about the issues but I think now this statement from you will finally be heard.
The next step will be to take the proposed negotiated document to a state mediator. We will keep you informed as to the process as we now head back to the table.
In Unity
Craig
4% pay raise is not accurate, it works out to less than a percent bump in the salary schedule.
I applaud the teachers for voting no, that took courage. It's not about the extra 25 minutes, but about how they are treated and compensated as professionals.
Clearly some of the comments made on this blog are from uneducated individuals who didn't put the time and effort into getting an education and thus don't have the ability to have a 'professional' career.
Sorry...
As a taxpayer of this district I think the teachers have done right and voting the contract down. I do believe that tenure teachers do make a lot when they make over $110,000 but we have many new ones that start low. For those of you that say the teachers are not teaching the children that is administrations fault partly. We do seem to keep ELL language learners in the program for a long time. For the last couple of years this district has complained about how the community didn't support the district by not voting for a referendum and then one was passed what did they do but keep a do nothing Superintendent and give administrators a raise. The administrators get to have retreats, Holiday parties and working lunches for one on our dime. Have you ever noticed the Card-members statement of the list of bills it is a lot of money and while other district post what is spent ours doesn't.
So I as a taxpayer say good for you and maybe this will draw attention to the district and how it is run.
So let me get this straight, the teachers want a salary increase yet the test scores have been going down and the students rank at the bottom 5% in the entire State of Illinois. Huh, sounds like they should be getting a pay cut.
The saying goes that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Some students would still do poorly on tests if they were in tiny classes taught by Harvard PhD teachers.
The D131 teachers I've known personally have almost all been hard-working and dedicated to our kids. It is usually NOT THE TEACHER'S FAULT if a student fails. Too bad we can't penalize (or reward) parents; they're the ones whose responsibility it is to send their child to school adequately fed, rested, homework checked, and motivated.
As a new teacher it was a fair offer once I added my $1200 plus 1.85%. I also am on a improvement committee and had a 3% bump there as well. That said, I voted No. I work in building that the Principal is never there. When she is she rushes in classrooms yells at teachers and writes enough paper work to cover herself with Aird. This goes on in all the schools. professional development is a joke the times are so short for our PLC it is over before we start.
We need to be heard. I think we give the Board President a earful about her wonderful administrators. If she got rid of some in Secondary then she needs to get rid of the ones in Elementary.
Start at Johnson, Bardwell, Rollins, Hermes and Brady.
Also let's give our new President the support he needs
The money is ok but the class sizes are horrible in comparison to what I am paid. I work at Allen and my class is at 34. We do have a tutor but she is spread so thin it does not help.
The money is fine if I had to only teach 22 kids
Madam President you listed off a number of things the Board did for the teachers. I have not seen these things. summer Schhol was a joke only favorites got picked. The good teachers stay in class and teach and never have opportunities
My my my - what a mess at the high school - evaluations are nothing but personal attacks against teachers and the need to get even often disguised with good intentions - I have witnessed bullying, verbal agression , intimidation, lying , etc. its a real game here - try out the special education department - what a mess and joke too - who is the leader there ? Teachers are being disciminated against age as well - since when is greying termed a teaching flaw ? What happened to the politcal rigteous of age versus experience and knowledge - it went out the window when they hired ding a lings to department chair and coordiante departments - scores being raised - get real - it is termed a hostile environment with hardly any union support - teachers pay for what insults - how many union members are really doing their jobs ? You would assume after seven teachers being taken down in one department one would start to question and seek help out - no way - what is the integreity of it all - is the union being paid double these days to leave teachers at bay to lobby against harshness of administrators and deparmtment chairs that also sit in with union prepresentation too - what is going on - no help really available - teachers need to band together and file with EEOC to get results - because it is not happening here - what a shame ------ slavery and master left along time ago with whips and chains too - seems like its back here again - regression is present and supported in the district --- please master leave me alone and attend to what needs to be done instead of the abuse - many teachers feel this way and are afraid to do something --
For those of you that would like to see the pension of retired EA employees you can use this URL. You will find it interesting.
http://www.openthebooks.com/
What's wrong with the administrators at those schools mentioned
Holy crap--according to that website, former D131 superintendent "Serial Bully" Radakovich is getting $15,314.29 per month.
Highway robbery!
May 30, 2012 9:43 PM please do not take the negative to heart. The blog is used by people who do not like the blog and the fact there is a place for people to vent their frustrations with the district. They posts things as if they are outsiders.
May 31, 2012 7:58 AM
you may be surprised to find those making the comments against the teachers are those in a position of authority.
What better way than to break persons spirit than to give them the impression others do no believe in them nor understand their concerns.
The teachers need to realize the community supports them. Keep up the good fight. A fair contract with improved working conditions can only be a win for our students, too.
I heard Beatrice is the next Asst. Superintendent. Is this true?
What a PR campaign by the teachers union. Bottom line is the students rank at the bottom 5% academically in the State. The teachers raises should be tied to that disgusting performance.
Dear Members,
Today at the end of the year picnic I was greeted at the door by Annette Johnson. Believe me she heard our NO vote. She asked that when we meet again (which will be on Monday) that I bring to her some data regarding why the contract was voted down. I told her I would provide her with plenty...
I spoke with various groups of members at many tables today and took the role of active listener so that I can relay the message. I could not meet with everyone so...
Attached is a form that you can fill out for me to bring your concerns regarding the proposed contract to the board through the next steps of negotiations. Please send the form back to me at:
aharding@d131.org
I hope to hear from you regarding specifics so that we can better get a contract that we deserve....
If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to contact me...and I thank you all for sharing.
Onward,
Adam
The District should start by getting rid of Clayton he is never available for comment and Johnson is. Since we pay her nothing maybe Madam President can donate the $200,000 it takes to run Clayton's department to better wages
Here's a link to the article in today's papers about the D131 teachers contract:
beaconnews.suntimes.com/12891208-417/east-aurora-teachers-reject-contract.html
Of course, blog readers knew all about it days ago.
_____________________________________
What a PR campaign by the teachers union. Bottom line is the students rank at the bottom 5% academically in the State. The teachers raises should be tied to that disgusting performance.
_____________________________________
At June 1 6:15am.
I forgot that it is the teachers' fault students have over 20 absences in a semester.
I forgot it is the teachers' fault students have over 100 tardies.
I forgot it is the teachers' fault students don't do their homework, study, and are happy to accept a D as a grade.
I forgot it is the teachers' fault they students finish any multiple choice test in five minutes and then sleep the rest of the time.
I work at East High, I graduated from East High and I coach at East High. I did vote NO. I am not a underpaid teacher because they have been good to the new teachers.
However the older teachers are really unpaid and they have become angry and bitter. Today the negative energy is horrible. It makes it very hard to come to work and be positive.
I attended last evenings sports banquet and the Board President talked with the students. They stood and cheered. I have not seen the kids that inspired all year.
So I do believe Adam when he said they are going to try. I believe the Board will try. But everyone needs to remember the school did not get that way all of a sudden.
If we put out a message it is up to us to fill out Adams form. We will lose all creditability if we do not come back with some idea's
We need BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS. I was burned out until last evening and being around the kids, not adults made me whole again.
I trust our new President he is really trying to keep us informed and do good things. His family and wife are all educators and he needs input lets help him.
I forgot that it is the teachers' fault students have over 20 absences in a semester.
BUSING THE KIDS WOULD MAKE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THIS ONE. BUT EAST HAS ALL THE ANSWERS AND THINKS IT KNOWS BEST BEING THE ONLY ONE IN THE STATE NOT TO OFFER BUSING.
I forgot it is the teachers' fault students have over 100 tardies.
YOUR RIGHT I GUESS WHEN THEY HAVE TO WALK TO SCHOOL, SOME HAVE TO WALK MILES IN BITTER COLD AND RAIN, BECAUSE OF NO BUSING THEN YEP THEY ARE GOING TO BE LATE
I forgot it is the teachers' fault students don't do their homework, study, and are happy to accept a D as a grade.
THEN YOU HAVE FAILED TO INSPIRE THEM TO LEARN. THERE IS MORE TO TEACHING THAN JUST TEACHING!
I forgot it is the teachers' fault they students finish any multiple choice test in five minutes and then sleep the rest of the time.
AGAIN, YOU HAVE FAILED AS A TEACHER IF THIS IS WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE DOING.
Is the post by the new union president for real? Is he posting on the blog for people to complete a survey. I am a d131 employee (however not a teacher, which it appears is all they are concerned about) and I did not receive a survey regarding my opinion on the upcoming re-negotiation.
It seems Hardy is trying to keep communication open and informing the membership of progress or lack thereof. I think if I was him I would create an outside email address,though, not one monitored by the district.
June 1, 2012 7:35 AM
do not be so easily swayed. If the Board was going to 'try' they would have come to the table with a reasonable, negotiable offer.
I am not sure why Clayton is being targeted. He breathes East Aurora and brings great pride to East Aurora. He is a reason the public or the state has not come in and taken over. He brings pride to East Aurora, do you?
Great article on Kurt Becker that while the teachers union bashed him at their meeting. He has been a asset I wish some of the teachers would take a page from his book
If Harding is keeping communication open, it is only with the teachers, not the entire union-paying members.
It seems the Union shot themselves in the foot releasing the statement to the Beacon. I read the editorial posts and because of the reputation of the East Aurora schools they are negative. It also seems the article on tax rates showing Indian Prairie as having the lowest tax rate on a $200,000 home for schools did not help. Their schools certainly have the best education.
West Aurora had the worst and if you read the editorial comments they are very negative and say it is because they pay teachers to well.
With no body getting raises today and all the negative comments on the news about the mess at the State the taxpayers will say $1200 plus 1.85% was a fair offer.
It seems like the union also said it was a fair offer according to Rhodes but they find the administration horrible and want better working conditions.
Harding sent it to the building reps and then they sent it out. If you didn't get his form contact your building rep.
What I would like to know is why did the union sign the agreement in the first place and the union leaders say it was a fair offer? If they now go to mediation the district will use that against us.
11:16 you seem to blame everything on the lack of busing. Isn't the reason we don't have busing is because the voters turned down a referendum that would have gone for busing? In other words, it's not the teachers or district's fault there isn't busing, it's the voters' choice.
Funny though how kids always seem to be on time for things they WANT to do. And manage to easily find rides to parties, etc. It's only when it comes to getting to school that they have so much trouble.
I also notice how many of these kids walking in the bitter cold don't have proper winter clothing -- but they can afford cell phones and I-pods.
It seems like she is the only who knows what she is doing. She recently announced all the changes that are being made to the ELL program. A huge step in the right direction. It sounds like she had been trying to get these changes approved for a long time. I'm glad someone came to their senses and realized how much our district needs these improvements to our ELL program and allowed her to change the program.
I have found many of the things that our union has done to be contrary to the best interests of our membership. The statement by Craig Rhodes shows us just how out of touch our union leadership is with its members and the real world. A union is the legal representative of its members. They have the responsibility speak for and represent their membership. This man just publicly stated that he disagrees with his membership. Can you imagine going to court and you hear your lawyer arguing for the other side?
In Chicago Public Schools, they have a very similar situation where the district only wants to give the teachers a cost of living increase but they want significantly more work for it. The teachers and their union are strongly and publicly saying NO, they want compensation for work done. In Chicago they are demanding a 30% raise, money to compensate for the additional hours plus their cost of living increase. The comment Craig made is the most irresponsible action taken against our membership in all the years I’ve taught in District 131.
The question is why would he say it? Who is the man representing, the district or us? Or is it just that this may now cost the union money to fight for? There is a definite conflict of interest when every time the union fights for their membership, it costs the union money. Maybe that is why in all the years the union has represented us, they have never brought a grievance against the district.
The simple fact is that the teachers in District 131 make anywhere from $10,000 - $20,000 less than the teachers in any other school district in Kane County. This contract offers some teachers a raise that is as low as 1.86 % but demands up to 15% more work for it and Craig Rhodes is publicly stating that he thinks this is fair compensation? If this is what the man truly believes, he needs to step down from any position in the union. It is also time for the union leadership to publicly state (at least to their membership) what their position is. Then the membership can decide if they want this union representing them.
To: June 1, 2012 8:33 PM
First, your numbers were not exactly accurate. They offered $1200 plus 1.75 the first year, 1.5% the second year and only 1.25% the third year. This has the effect of being unfair from the start. If you were a newer teacher it could mean a raise of around 4.5%. Teachers at the top of the scale may only see a raise of 1.86%.
Now, if that was simply an increase for the time currently worked, it may be fair but when you consider that the district is demanding up to around 15% more work from teachers you begin to see just how unfair it is. That doesn't even take into account how much less the teachers are making in District 131 than in all the surrounding districts. Because they make so much more money to start, a 2% raise on the West Side means more money to their teacher than a 3% raise on the East Side.
As for your argument about Indian Prarie, the homes over there are worth significantly more money that the homes on the East Side which means they are receiving much more per household despite the lower rate and they have, on avereage, fewer people living in each household. On top of that, the students pay significantly higher fees in Indian Prairie. They pay up to around $200 per activity like sports, band, etc.
If the district gave all of it's teachers a $10,000 raise, it might start to be considered "fair".
I have to agree that the Union President did speak out of tune when he stated he thought it was a fair contract. No union ever says that in front of their employers and it shows he is for them and not his piers.
This district has never had busing and I can remember walking a mile to middle school when I went and do did many others and we where able to learn. Part of the reason here for not learning is some parents do not let their children know how important it is to have a good education. Just like the district getting that building for the Magnet School only students that have a ride or can walk will be able to go I believe that is segregation.
A district that has 78% low income can't be expected to pay as much as a district that isn't low income but they should pay a fair wage but where do you base that wage from it seems a lot of it is by how much revenue they bring in not about how the employees preform.
I asked about this and was told the board does recognize the teachers are under paid but they said if they don't start some where fixing the pay scale it will never be fixed. They said that at least as these teachers gain more seniority they will now be paid what other districts are making.
They also said they had a pot of money set aside and the state took 4 million. It seems like they want to stay on budget.
They also they can not fix 20 years of bad discisions. Our union is also supporting the secretaries and many of them are making over $50,000 a year. Now the teachers are oing their job by doing all the attendance reports
Here is idea board lay off PE administration and secretaries and give he money to the teachers in the low tiers.
Until East Aurora constituents vote Annette Johnson out of office the district is not going to be a good place for either students or teachers. Her agenda is to place her friends in positions in the district--ie-- Director of Building and Grounds, Athletic Secretary. She has pushed this agenda and Superintendent Roberts lacks the backbone to over rule her.
Annette Johnson should be impeached. She is misusing the power she was given as President of the Board to place her people in positions in the district, even if they do not have the qualifications. The longer this bully is in power, the worse the state of the district will be.
5:00 am and 5:15 am are arguing for fair, which is admirable -- but in the negotiation process you have to live in reality at the same time you're advocating for your membership. The Chicago teachers demanding a 30% raise makes a good sound bite for the news, and makes the members happy, but is setting them up for major disappointment since it's a totally unrealistic demand. NO entity, be it a public school district or a business, is going to give the employees such a huge increase. You have to start by asking for more than the other side wants to give, but at least within the realm of possibility, and then both sides have to move gradually toward somewhere between the competing starting positions.
As for Aurora, you need to start by ALL employees getting an increase that covers the cost of living to make sure they're aren't effectively getting a cut. Then you try for an increase to cover any increased work. Similar my comment above, realistically the school's not going to give a 15% increase. So if what they're asking for is a 15% increase in work, you push for some increase but not that much. Maybe instead of percentages, you think about a deal like they did w/ the new teachers of a stipend.
Let me be clear what I have . If teachers are paid the same as 204 then one can reasonably expect the same results from the students. If that is not the case then what is your point. 204 just announced huge layoffs last month. More children will be walking in 203. West will raise taxes again. No one wants to take the blame so we point the finger at someone else. If we don't work together this district will collapse under its own weight. If it was only the parents fault then there would be no need for teachers and schools. Teachers do not create the strategic plan for the district and administrators don't teach. Everyone involved from the boardroom to the classroom to the home share in this. Everyone has blood on their hands.
The teachers have some nerve asking for a raise. I can't sell my house because no family that finds education important will go to the schools. IF I lived in West Aurora I may have a fighting chance if I lived in Indian Prairie it would sell but what am I getting for my taxes?
This was the comparison since 2005 a house worth $205,000 was the following
West Aurora $4519 now $5677
East Aurora. $4519 now $5525
Indian Prairie $4929 now $5262
The schools are at the bottom of the entire state. I ask if we do our jobs that poorly would we get a raise?
You can't just blame the teachers for the poor scores in D131 it is also the administration, the superintendent and the board. In the last year what did they focus on getting a sports program and improving the image of the district. What was said at the end of the year program for the teachers by the superintendent that they have fixed those problems now they have to work on the test score shouldn't that have been the first thing they have done. As far as what people are paying for a &205,000 home how many do we have in the district?
Johnson has no friends or relatives working in the district like the old board or the central office administrators. Look at Salinas he voted on his own wife's contract. Wells has a library assistant, a PPA and a secretary related to her. In fact she has done more to clean up the corruption in this District and the kids have gained many programs. Some of the administrators are angry that she pushes them hard. The only people writing this are ones she forced out.
This blog has citied Marin many times for the fact she was a horrible administrator. Recently Marin tried to get a job at Provio and was turned down this was a district worst than ours and they did not want her.
Talk about a bully the board should have fired Wilson last year when 8 teachers went to EEOC.
The main issue I have with Johnson is she started cleaning house which was long over due but gives everyone to many chances. Aird, Adams Nestor and Chuck Roberts should have gone as well.
She is also to close to Roberts.
The board needs to stick to their guns and demand a longer class day like other districts did 10 years ago.
Johnson better have the stomach for it because the other members don't do a damm thing.
BTW I am not a friend or relative I have watched this district from the inside decline for many years. Johnson is the best thing that has happened and I am happy to see changes embraced by her to the Bilingual program without her lead it would have never happened. Once embraced the District will change.
Who is the Director of B &G ?
Why did Marin daughter and daughter in law get a job? Also Nestor's wife. How about the Salinas Family with 8 members working in the District.
Very well put June 2, 2012 5:24 PM
As for bussing. We have city busses that go most places the families live in this district. I have been at the school have seen kids strolling in long after classes have started. They come in pairs or sometimes a small group. How can this be acceptable?
To: June 2, 2012 10:25 AM
You are completely off base with your reasoning.
Why is it, some people only expect the teachers to live in reality? What about the State. The State keeps making one demand after another, after another but they don't want to fund any of them (They are called unfunded mandates). In fact, they keep trying to place the burden of paying the bills on the local communities but the State wants to make all the decisions where it comes to education. Can you go to the store and demand services and then say you don't want to pay for them?
It's not a difficult equation. If they have no money for additional services, they have no business asking for additional services. Apparently, they must have learned using some new form of math. It does seem that being a politician is the only career in our society that doesn't require a person to be qualified to do their job.
I am so glad that the teachers here (and in Chicago) are standing up to the State and saying enough is enough. The State has, for the past several years, been adding responsibilities to the teachers workload to the point where teachers are spending many, many personal hours to keep up with the extra expectations. The longer teaching day is just the latest in a long line of extra work the State has been demanding.
As for those who are quick to point out that the district has been failing for years, what they neglect to mention is that the State keeps raising the bar to the point now where only 8 high schools in the entire state are meeting AYP.
Here is a fact that those people never seem to mention. When the State started keeping records (for NCLB)the middle schools were the first data that was available. At that time about 18% of our middle schoolers were meeting AYP (and at that time the standards were lower). Now with the testing standards raised to a much higher level, almost 70% of our middle schoolers are meeting or exceeding standards.
I wonder how many of the people complaing on here about the performance of our schools can show the same type of improvement in their careers.
Teachers, just like every other profession deserve to be compensated for the work that they do. Go Teachers.
I see Clayton has a article in the Beacon about the Urban League saving over a million with out placed students and Community in schools saving $500,000 IJsselmeer summer programs.
My thoughts exactley 8:02. The schools are a failure academically. Where is the state of illinois. What about linda chapa lavia who is an east alum and sits of the state education board in the House yet represents one of the worst districts in the entire state. she is an east grad and she is also hispanic. Talk aboiut turning your back on your past and people.
Speaking of board members getting jobs Hull got his kid a summer job at East in maintenance.
People listen up, it's not the money, we the teachers are tired of getting disrespected, harassed, and bullied by administration. The problem is the board does not hold principals accountable for anything. Teachers are stressed and fed up with this nonsense. Waldo's principal? should have been tossed, Simmons three principals long ago! Johnsons a nut and is still their. It is not all about MONEY! it is about being treated fairly. No teachers should have been subjected to these incompetent principals for this long, the board should take lessons from other districts and find people who can work with teachers not bully them. Where does this district find principals like these? So please quit talking about the money, we didn't come here for that.
The northeast side where all but two of the board members live have lots of homes over that value. As far as the test scores they have been working on them and they have gone up. Why does everybody not talk about that?
5:24pm you are correct
I also want to say I talked with Johnson at the Picnic She was the only one out of the Board or administration that seemed to care and was approachable. She told us that we need to complain to the State Rep and State Senator the District still does not have a budget and lost 4 million this year. How can anyone plan for our raises unless they know what the State is paying. On the other hand many of us are worried about pension reform. We are all in it together and instead of writing on this stupid blog we need to be heard by the State Rep.
To: June 1, 2012 6:15 AM
You stated "Bottom line is the students rank at the bottom 5% academically in the State. The teachers raises should be tied to that disgusting performance."
What you fail to comprehend is that there is an Achievement Gap nationwide between low income / minority students and their more affluent / white couterparts. The reason the test scores in District 131 look abysmal is because we have a 79% low income and a 95.5% minority population.
The low income and minority students in your higher ranking districts are performing no better or worse than the students in District 131. The teachers in District 131 have one of the most difficult teaching jobs in the state and are performing just as well as the teachers in any other school system.
If you want to see the numbers for yourself, here is a link to the Illinois School Report Card which shows the data I am referring to:
http://iirc.niu.edu/State.aspx?source=Trends&source2=Achievement_Gap
The teachers in District 131 are doing an awesome job and deserve to be compensated accordingly.
I don't know if you realize it but it isn't the Board's place to come to those things it is the Superintendent's that is why they hire them. She is wrong with talking about this with others because she alone can't do anything by herself it takes the whole Board. If she was so concerned why doesn't she have her Superintendent going to the Springfield like other Superintendents lobbying for the money. In fact other districts have on their website articles and how much the State owes them nothing like that on ours. If the State owes us that money how can they buy a building and refurbish it?
We rank lower than other Hanpanic or minority population schools because of the Curiculum. The Hispanic students come to school so far behind and Aird expects us to teach them in Spanish first and once they master that then to teach them in English. A high performing school in d204 which he kids come knowing the alphabet and numbers is not expected to do that. So why do are kids expected to learn botth here? The tests are taken in English some kids never have enough English to answer any of the questions on iSAT. Look at the schools that have the biggest Bilingual they are at the bottom. Nt because of the teachers but because of the Curriculum.
We have been saying that for years nobody listens. Aird will and her girls or Mike Smith and Delsanto who are afraid of her will harass teachers for teaching English.
Recetly Childress rolled out a new Curiculum wait until next year you will see the scores go up. Ms Johnson you walk on water with the teachers. Don't listen we know the administrators hate you because you hold them accountable. Yes it should be Roberts job and lately he came to the Bilingual teachers meeting and announced the changes. We heard it was Johnson who forced these changes Thank YOU Thank YOU.
Think about this for the first time kids can practice English in a PE or Music class. Shelted is the new word in 131even though it has been around for 20 yearsI. I know the scores this year in my building are flat but wait until next year.
You are correct it is not so much about money 10:36pm it is about respect. when I tell other teachers I teach at 131 thy look at me like I am stupid. It is about respect. You ROCK MS Johnson. We know it is the administrators that posting they don't want reform.
To: June 2, 2012 9:25 PM
My reasoning isn't off base, I'm just talking reality. A 30% jump is just NEVER going to happen. The politicians (including the school boards) would never go for it because if they did the voters would run them out of town. Don't get me wrong, personally I think teachers are grossly underpaid and DESERVE significant pay increases, but ultimately you're expecting that from completely unreliable people (i.e. the state legislators).
Your point about unfunded mandates, and wanting reality to apply to the legislatures, etc. as well is well founded, but nothing new. That's been going on for as long as I've been working in the educational setting -- going on 35 years. And that won't change until the politicians decide to change it -- which means never. They're passing those mandates to fix problems (some real, most just perceived) but they don't have any money to put into that fix.
The biggest problem is that our state government is so screwed up (on both sides of the aisle). State funding of education to even out the quality of education across the state works in some states, but not ours because it ends up being local taxes (i.e. property) that pays for the schools anyway. OUR state government is full of deadbeasts that don't pay their bills (except of course the ones that involve running their own offices and rewarding their supporters to buy votes to keep themselves in office).
There's two major legislative initiatives I think would improve education dramatically. At the federal level, the drastically flawed NCLB needs to be repealed. At the state level (or maybe this should be federal, too) there should be a law outlawing unfunded mandates.
Johnson is approachable because anything she has to say is echoing someone else. She doesn't have good ideas, just ways of bullying others into making moves for the sake of change. Any good changes are things certain admin have attempted to implement for a long while but met resistance. Now Madam president will gladly take credit for all these things being her ideas.
If you come to Board meeting, you will hear her make many "I" statements. "I did this, I did that" the only image campaign going on is trying to improve hers. Her actions go without consequence. She has no family in the district and few friends and no families close to her that are affected by her mistakes.
In reading many comments about working conditions let me address this from a teacher standpoint. I work at Elementary and I am in a PLC group that meets with other teachers.
At my building Demar has her sister come in and boos teachers around, she even has a key to the building. She works with student records and teacher records. she is not a employee.
The teachers complained to the Board they followed channels like everyone says. Aird came I had a meeting with teachers and accused them of running to the Board. Demar knew the teachers that did not approve and they ended up being targeted.
Bardwell had the same issue they complained to Dr Roberts he did not do anything then they complained to the Board. Again the Board followed procedure and gave the letter to Aird and she came in screaming and waving the letter around. Aird then targeted teachers with Groh
Sae thing at Johnson. Teachers complained to Roberts this time Cali was off ( she misses more than she works).
Glozabach came in intimidated a 3rd grader and suspended a very good teacher.
Waldo has the same problem the Principal writes book all day long and the AP works on her Doctorate.
It is hard enough without being informally reviewed just to make Aird happy. Do you think that disrupts the class.
The union up and until some teachers told Hettinger and Rhodes they would withdraw did nothing.
I went to the meeting and people are very upset. we do have respect for the Board when they made changes in Secondary but don't forget Elementary.
The bilingual problem has been an issue for years. Parents have complained to the district about their children being held back in the program longer than necessary. A few Hispanic people who have run for the board have spoken about the Hispanic families and their concerns with children not being mainstreamed sooner.
Is it possible 131 may be milking the government funding for these programs by shortchanging the students, then using them as an excuse for the low test scores.....how sad.
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