Monday, October 6, 2008

ANOTHER PIG IN A POKE?

Why should we approve a contract with no salary scale to refer to? How come neither CTA or the district has released what they expect to pay us?

I'm not sure we should approve ANYTHING at this point. Maybe you can convince me.

Let's talk. Comments welcome.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

This (along with the salary scale being unavailable) bothers me:

"The Board and HCTA agree to a one-time pay increase of $1000 to be paid to teachers currently on Level 27, and psychologists currently on Level 17, distributed in two payments: one prior to winter break and one prior to spring break."

"one time pay increase"?

Does this mean that Level 27 will NOT be $1000 more next year? If not are we back at the "does it count towards retirement" factor again?

Anonymous said...

Does a "level" or "step" equal one full year's service?

What if we actually vote no? We get even less? Nothing is really communicated; at least that is what it seems.

Anonymous said...

What about those of us in the middle levels? Are we moving up just one level or are we moving up two levels as we were promised last year (to correct the errors made when we went to the "level" system)?

Anonymous said...

I voted "no" but most of my colleagues are so docile they will take any crumb the district throws their way.

The contract will pass overwhelmingly. I always vote "no" on the principle that any first offer is bound to get better.

One of my students, returning from a pass told me that an AP, after having left my classroom from a walk-thru, leaned her head toward my closed door "trying to hear what I was saying after she left". Then this woman asked my student if I were a good teacher.

As God is my witness, this was was totally unsolicited.

The AP will deny it.

Vote NO and make them sweat.

Anonymous said...

I voted "NO" with a big red X. Hope more people do, too. I'm sick of this CTA--we need to clean house there, as well as the board and rossac.

pam

Anonymous said...

I voted "No" and plan to counsel anyone else to vote the same. Remember, a nonvote is the same as a yes vote, so the contract always passes. We need to send this sorry excuse for a union a message. It irks me to read in the paper how Lyons states that passage of the contract is just a formality. These highly paid union people are just too smug.

Anonymous said...

Our principal has already sent letters home to parents alerting them of the early release days. In the unlikely event that the contract does NOT pass, another letter would have to go home saying, "oops!" Clearly nobody expects it not to pass.

Mc said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Please help. I know I just looked closely at the ballot and this is not the best timing... but I never realized till just now that the ballot only states the increase for level 27 teachers and level 17 Psychologists. I've heard about two percent, but DO NOT see it spelled out on this ballot... Whats up with that? Are we really getting at least a two percent increase (I'm in my fourth year--- so those of you who have been around longer help me understand). I need the two percent to pay for the additional 18-19% increase on insurance... I would be for the 07/08s same pay and going back to 7.675 days, then we could call it a pay raise, vs so called 8% we got last year when about 6 of the 8% was actually being paid for increased work time... Plus last years pay raise did not cover the insurance increase... Do they not think teachers can do Math or do they think we are just suckers?

Plus I'm sick of hearing teachers tell me not to complain "at least I have a job", like this economy gives the district and the state the right to crap on us :{

What about finding money for pay raises from last years middle and high school teachers who had to go to 300 contact minutes-- remember that 28 million saved by just making us work a little harder.. If you recall, Mary Ellen sent a pop-up at the end of last year stating that we had been paid for the more work expected... What she didn't say was we got paid 8% more (including more time on duty) for about 50% more work with students, teachers went from having 75-85 students to having 150+ students a day... I feel this change has been an injustice to our students and overworked teachers. As an ESE Teacher, I adjusted and told others to not do a great job last year, because they would always expect more work for less pay. Last year, I had an IEP assistant all week. This year not enough units to keep the IEP assistant all week... The assistant that actually helped me take on the added teaching requirements as well as the 35 student case load, get by with less but continue to work hard...

I know poorest me, but why is ESE a critical teaching shortage, I don't know maybe because they just work to break you in this county vs build you up and keep you... Don't get me wrong regular ed. I know you got taken for a ride too...

Last but certainly not least, how does the district justify spending 32 million on Spring Board, when they saw this crisis coming??? Spring Board has not made me a better teacher, nor do my students have more knowledge in English and Math than other years... I better see FCAT scores increase, our district better not be two points away from a "B" this year, something needs to justify this spending to keep district pockets lined. In history we call this graft, when politicians use their power to benefit themselves... Patronage when they use the power to benefit others, such as their friends...