Tuesday, September 4, 2007
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Mission Statement: To consolidate information and opinion from parents, educators, staff, district, students, and media to better our schools for the sake of our students.
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About Me
- Kim DesVoigne-Clasen
- Kim's a former elementary school teacher with kids at LFP Elementary where she's an active volunteer, and where she (and her husband) both attended. She's also a Shoreline PTA member and education advocate.
20 comments:
I attended the school board meeting on Monday. Please remember, there are two sides to every story. I went as a supporter of the teachers - which I still am. However, the union needs to step back from their continuing criticism of the school board and try to develop a strategy to benefit the teachers and students. A compromise will not be made if the union continues to harp on the past. To be progressive we must move forward - not wallow in history. To continuously point your finger at the Board when you need their support will not help.
It's not finger pointing to hold accountable those who routinely mismanage and overspend. Nor is it finger pointing to call the district on its misleading the public and misrepresentingbcurrent contract negotiations. We have worked with the district for over seven years of budgetary crisis after crisis. Eight supts in nine years says something. How many times must we bail the district out before the community says enough is enough? How many student servicess must be cut? SL just cut summer school. How much more can our students bear? THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND SOMEHOW EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS. GET THE WHOLE STORY. TALK TO A TEACHER.
However, the union needs to step back from their continuing criticism of the school board and try to develop a strategy to benefit the teachers and students. A compromise will not be made if the union continues to harp on the past. To be progressive we must move forward - not wallow in history.
Unfortunately, it is those events in the past that have brought us to where we are now. It is difficult to move forward if you don't recognize and fix the problems that have happened in the past. Previous administrations tried to just move forward without acknowledging past errors, and in doing so dug us into a deeper hole each time.
We also need a system of checks and balances put into place so this cannot happen again. You can't set up such a system without studying the events of the past to see where problems occurred. Alas, this administration has been loathe to admit any culpability in past issues, despite the fact that many current administrators and some current SB members were involved in or at least knew of those poor decisions over the years.
I think everyone has acknowledged that there have been errors in the past. However, there have NOT been nine supes in ten years - unless you want to overstate and say that interim supes who were appointed during hiring processes count... I am not trying to deny that it is a vast array of errors that have gotton us into a budget crunch, nor is it the fault of the district that there are a smaller number of students in the district which makes it very hard to budget. Of course the teachers have the right to strike, and frankly, the Admin board should repeal thier own COLAs to the cause (and yes, this is too possible) I am simply saying that finger pointing is NOT progressive at this point of negotiations. Shame on both sides for being so pig headed and shame on people who overstate the situation to push their own point.
There have, in fact, been 8 supts since 1995. That does count those appointed on an interim basis, whose leadership and oversight (or lack thereof) have all been woven into the current fabric of the district. It is not an overstatement to say that a lack of consistent leadership in central administration has led to our current crisis. Furthermore, I would not categorize a request for accountability as either finger-pointing or unprogressive. We've seen how a lack of such accountability has led to a spiral of the same actions, again and again. Enough.
What is the salary level for administrators and board members? How do you find out?
They are asking the teachers to make a financial sacrifice. Have any administrators or board members made a financial sacrifice?
Is it really true that we are paying $113,000 to the latest ex superintendent just for NOT working? Have we paid other former superintendents to NOT work?
As a Seattle City parent of a returning sophomore who got a boundary exception to come to Shorecrest this strike potential is disappointing. I am glad our child isn't an incoming Freshman nor a departing Senior, as striking will be hard on them.
That being said, this past year at Shorecrest has been the best thing ever for our daughter. We have absolutley no regrets about our decision to come to Shorecrest and no matter what happens, the wonderful experiences of last year are fadeless.
I have no doubt a decision can be reached, somehow! And if a strike is what it takes...so be it.
But, above all else those involved may want to consider deeply:
"COOPERATION + TOLERANCE = PEACE"
We are capable of finding answers to difficult problems. Let us be an example to the children we are here to serve.
Lise Anerheggen-Leif
Thanks Lise, your post is very important right now. ""COOPERATION + TOLERANCE = PEACE"" In my 20 years of teaching I have never seen such angry, ugly rhetoric as I am reading from our Association. We called for two of our fellow Shoreliners jobs to be cut on one of our flyers! In bargaining I am told we offered to get rid of Family Advocates. No, they might not be SEA or SESPA members, but they are part of our Shoreline family. It makes me very sad to see this. Who are we now? Is this the influence of the WEA people that are advising us?
I think we should take a step back from this strike plan. when we meet on Tuesday maybe we can make a work to rule plan? Let's get back to work and keep talking to the district. And not take adult problems out on the student. We need to be models for the children.
"Caught in the middle"
I hadn't heard this before - see this link for the Attorney General's opinion on the legality of public educator's striking in Washington.
http://nwbloggers.com/2007/08/24/friendly-reminder-to-the-wea/
Regarding the comment on the legality of educator's striking. Is that the issue here? Minorities used to have to sit in the back of the bus too. Did that make it right or have we moved on?
How on Earth is a teacher's right to strike even on the same planet as minorities riding in the back of the bus??
Anywho, personally I have no issue with teachers who feel they have the right, or the reason, to strike. Whether it be for higher wages, better benefits or whatever the issue of the day happens to be. I do however take acception to this constant drum beating about being "better for the kids". What would be best for them is to have the teachers in class, ready to go, on the first day of school.
The response to the original anonymous poster in this thread makes me feel so sad and makes the situation feel hopeless (regardless of the eventual outcome of this particular negotiation).
Teachers in Shoreline have incredible support from the community members. Don’t squander it. When someone says “I went to the meeting and this is what I came away thinking” you shouldn’t immediately retaliate or shoot down their points. Listen to what the community members are saying. We do support you, but your rhetoric is off-putting. I, personally, think that you are worth fare more than you are asking for, and I can see why it is frustrating that you are in this position now, but I’m tired of hearing about the past.
If you feel like there is still financial mismanagement going on, give a detailed report on how it needs to be addressed. If you feel that the school board holding the district accountable for their actions, work on the challenger’s election campaigns. This needs to occur outside of the current contract dispute. Negotiations start now, not from when the financial mismanagement occurred.
-GTK
Someone asked about the administrators' salaries. You can get to those (although the District ALWAYS says that they're a year behind because they are) by going to OSPI. www.k12.wa.us. Find the tab at the top called "Business/Grants" and click on that. Then "Apportionment/Financial Services." Find "Publications" on the left, and choose "Personnel Summary Report" and then "2006-07". This will take you to a page called "Preliminary School District Personnel Summary Reports 2006-07 School Year." You can choose any category you want. Duty 11 is the Superintendent. Duty 12 is Deputy/Assistant Superintendent. Shoreline is usually on the 2nd page. If you want a description of the Duties, there is an Appendix: Duty Code Definitions at the bottom of the page.
If you'd like to see other Washington State teachers salaries and benefits, the Evergreen Freedom Association just published the data from last year: www.effwa.org.
This seems like an increadibly weak position on the part of the board. I'm surprised that council for the district hasn't recommended settling. Ultimately, it will be the board members up for re-election and (unfortunately) the students that will pay the final bill. It's time Shoreline residents elect competent management.
It is disingenuous for SEA to assert that we should contact the board or the administration to avoid a strike. In reality, only the teachers; not students, not parents and not the administration, can prevent a strike. If the teachers show up to work then there is no strike. If they stay out, then the strike is on. As to the earlier post about the legality of a strike, Judge Joan Dubuque in her 2002 finding in Issaquah School District vs Issaquah Education Assn wrote
"It is this court's determination, after reviewing the Supreme Court precedents of this state as well as the laws of this state, that teachers do not have the right to strike, and that what is going on is an illegal strike at this time." The judge issued a court order ending the strike, backed up by monetary fines for non-compliance.
This means that if there is a stalemate in the negotiations, and the teachers go out on strike, that the Shoreline School Board will have the right and the duty to go to court to force an end to the strike and, under Washington Law and court precedents, the School Board will win.
In response to the genius that posted "Anywho, personally I have no issue with teachers who feel they have the right, or the reason, to strike....." let me say this:
I can see where you are coming from. Your teachers must have gone on strike often when you were a child, as you have difficulty with basic grammar. The word you are grasping for is "exception" not "acception". Time for a refresher course!
As a current Shorewood student, I feel obligated to tell you that the general feeling of support for the teachers, and a iron will to reach a logical, and functional agreement
POWER TO SW!
To anonymous on 9/4 10:04a.m. WOW!!!!!! Your negative comment regarding someone elses grammar is amazed me. Due to lack of tolerance in this world for people who aren't exactly like us in thought, word and whatever else... we have a planet that will not survive nor remotely thrive.
And on a smaller scale within Shoreline, we have teachers, students, parents and administrators at odds.
(L. A-Leif)
COOPERATION + TOLERANCE = PEACE
It is incorrect to blame the current situation on many superintendents. Instead, look no further than one, James Welsh, Super for 5 years, summer 01-summer,06. Yes there were very serious troubles before then, but the current problems are a direct result of Welsh, with full support of the three board members up for election this November, sending district money to Welsh's friends, often in direct violation of state regulation, and always in violation of good common sense. Keep in mind that last year, with no schools closed or programs cut, the district ended the year nearly 1 million in the black for the year, and the upcoming year will be about 1.8 million in the black in order to pay off Welsh's debt. (He was paid $113,000 to leave!) It was just bad management and bad, bad Board oversight that brought this about. And it is really stupid to demand that our teachers take a huge hit to help pay it off.
The SESPA contract that was negotiated will reduce my pay (with a loss in PSP stipend and loss of professional stipends) over 11% (including salary increase). No success story here. Anyone under 3 hours a day took a big hit. Administrators?
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