For their part, teachers will suggest that the 6.5% closed the gap on where their wages should be, but more pointedly they site figures suggesting that the school district spends more on consultants and legal counsel than they do on health benefits for the teachers.
Twice now at recent school board meetings, teachers have protested the contract offer of a one percent pay raise.
Wearing green T-shirts with the emblem, “2+2” on their chests to refer to their contract demands of a 2 percent salary increase and 2 percent toward improved health benefits.
From the standpoint of the school district, they just do not have the money.
School board President Jim Provenza in September:
“The state does not give us a 4.5 percent COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) just for a salary increase — I wish they did. They give us 4.5 percent for all cost increases, whether it’s utilities, building costs or books. … Everything that increases in cost has to be covered by that. (And) it also has to cover what we lose from declining enrollment… We were happy to provide a 6.5 percent (salary) increase last year; we knew that would put us in a deficit this year.”
Bruce Colby is the associate superintendent for business services.
The school district is facing declining enrollment that could lead to the districting losing around $600,000 in ADA next year. According to Mr. Colby, a one percent pay increase would cost the district $368,000 per year, while a 2 percent increase would be double that amount, or $736,000.
The question for teachers however; is, what is the best expenditure of money by the school district? They cite statistics that show that the pay for administrators has gone up much faster than that for teachers. They cite that the pay for the new superintendent was increased far more than that for teachers, and while the amount given to the superintendent may be a drop in the bucket compared to the teacher’s salaries, it is emblematic of where the priorities of the district lie.
On the one hand, you are paying your top executive, the new superintendent nearly $200,000 per year in salary alone.
One the other hand, DTA President Tim Paulson argues:
“We have 125 members paying over $900 a month [toward health coverage]. Many are single parents, and 25 percent of their salary goes to health benefits. That is ridiculous.”
That kind of disparity in a public institution is bound to create resentments come contract time.
The Teachers have a delicate path to walk at this point with the upcoming Measure Q vote. From the teacher’s perspective – – over whom 98% voted to recommend endorsement of Measure Q – – is absolutely essential as it provides the district with around 16% of its funding. Without the passage of Measure Q, we will see deep cutbacks in programs and that would mean equally deep cutbacks in the number of teachers and possibly their salaries.
However, the teachers also have to recognize that the district needs and desires that money just as badly as they do, and they hope that that will give them a bit of leverage.
The school district felt that they had a good round of negotiations with the teachers last week, and at one point it felt like this would defuse the current situation.
Keven French at the school board meeting said as much:
“We did have a positive meeting (with the DTA) one week ago.”
He claimed that they made a new offer which included a cost-of-living increase and upgrades to the current health benefits package, but it appears from the response by teachers at the school board meeting that this was not enough.
We shall continue to monitor this situation here on the Vanguard.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
The DJUSD and School
Board should do everything in their power to implement the Valley Oak Charter School concept that will attract non-Davis students(and State $$) into the system .
The DJUSD and School
Board should do everything in their power to implement the Valley Oak Charter School concept that will attract non-Davis students(and State $$) into the system .
The DJUSD and School
Board should do everything in their power to implement the Valley Oak Charter School concept that will attract non-Davis students(and State $$) into the system .
The DJUSD and School
Board should do everything in their power to implement the Valley Oak Charter School concept that will attract non-Davis students(and State $$) into the system .
Is this the same teacher group that couldn’t endorse Joe Spector for School Board? Spector is a DTA member and former negotiator. The teachers want more money but they don’t want to support the canididate most likely to back their requests. I think these teachers who need an education in politics.
Is this the same teacher group that couldn’t endorse Joe Spector for School Board? Spector is a DTA member and former negotiator. The teachers want more money but they don’t want to support the canididate most likely to back their requests. I think these teachers who need an education in politics.
Is this the same teacher group that couldn’t endorse Joe Spector for School Board? Spector is a DTA member and former negotiator. The teachers want more money but they don’t want to support the canididate most likely to back their requests. I think these teachers who need an education in politics.
Is this the same teacher group that couldn’t endorse Joe Spector for School Board? Spector is a DTA member and former negotiator. The teachers want more money but they don’t want to support the canididate most likely to back their requests. I think these teachers who need an education in politics.
If I read the post correctly, last year’s increase ‘was supposed to be for both years’? What happened….sounds fishy as most of this school district’s schemes…..sorry, I don’t support them.
If I read the post correctly, last year’s increase ‘was supposed to be for both years’? What happened….sounds fishy as most of this school district’s schemes…..sorry, I don’t support them.
If I read the post correctly, last year’s increase ‘was supposed to be for both years’? What happened….sounds fishy as most of this school district’s schemes…..sorry, I don’t support them.
If I read the post correctly, last year’s increase ‘was supposed to be for both years’? What happened….sounds fishy as most of this school district’s schemes…..sorry, I don’t support them.
We need a school board that is supporting the teachers as opposed to simply providing big increases for administrators.
The David Murphy regime did this…I thought the school board was not going to do a “business as usual?”
I plan to vote for Joe Spector and Bob Schelen for the School Board. I believe that they will give teachers the pay and respect that they deserve. Our Davis teachers are underpaid.
We need a school board that is supporting the teachers as opposed to simply providing big increases for administrators.
The David Murphy regime did this…I thought the school board was not going to do a “business as usual?”
I plan to vote for Joe Spector and Bob Schelen for the School Board. I believe that they will give teachers the pay and respect that they deserve. Our Davis teachers are underpaid.
We need a school board that is supporting the teachers as opposed to simply providing big increases for administrators.
The David Murphy regime did this…I thought the school board was not going to do a “business as usual?”
I plan to vote for Joe Spector and Bob Schelen for the School Board. I believe that they will give teachers the pay and respect that they deserve. Our Davis teachers are underpaid.
We need a school board that is supporting the teachers as opposed to simply providing big increases for administrators.
The David Murphy regime did this…I thought the school board was not going to do a “business as usual?”
I plan to vote for Joe Spector and Bob Schelen for the School Board. I believe that they will give teachers the pay and respect that they deserve. Our Davis teachers are underpaid.
The DJUSD and School
Board should do everything in their power to implement the Valley Oak Charter School concept that will attract non-Davis students(and State $$) into the system .
A charter school will only use more resources. There is no way that a pool of external students would provide enough money to cover the cost of the charter.
The charter may be worthy for other reasons, but certainly not as a net fundraiser.
The DJUSD and School
Board should do everything in their power to implement the Valley Oak Charter School concept that will attract non-Davis students(and State $$) into the system .
A charter school will only use more resources. There is no way that a pool of external students would provide enough money to cover the cost of the charter.
The charter may be worthy for other reasons, but certainly not as a net fundraiser.
The DJUSD and School
Board should do everything in their power to implement the Valley Oak Charter School concept that will attract non-Davis students(and State $$) into the system .
A charter school will only use more resources. There is no way that a pool of external students would provide enough money to cover the cost of the charter.
The charter may be worthy for other reasons, but certainly not as a net fundraiser.
The DJUSD and School
Board should do everything in their power to implement the Valley Oak Charter School concept that will attract non-Davis students(and State $$) into the system .
A charter school will only use more resources. There is no way that a pool of external students would provide enough money to cover the cost of the charter.
The charter may be worthy for other reasons, but certainly not as a net fundraiser.
Does anyone know what happens if the teachers’ contract is not settled before the two new board members are selected? Am I correct to guess that it then goes to the new board to settle?
DTA members should carefully choose to vote for individually.
The two that I see being most favorable to teachers at this time are Spector and Schelen.
If you look at who is supporting the others they have people who have not been favorable to teachers in the past.
Does anyone know what happens if the teachers’ contract is not settled before the two new board members are selected? Am I correct to guess that it then goes to the new board to settle?
DTA members should carefully choose to vote for individually.
The two that I see being most favorable to teachers at this time are Spector and Schelen.
If you look at who is supporting the others they have people who have not been favorable to teachers in the past.
Does anyone know what happens if the teachers’ contract is not settled before the two new board members are selected? Am I correct to guess that it then goes to the new board to settle?
DTA members should carefully choose to vote for individually.
The two that I see being most favorable to teachers at this time are Spector and Schelen.
If you look at who is supporting the others they have people who have not been favorable to teachers in the past.
Does anyone know what happens if the teachers’ contract is not settled before the two new board members are selected? Am I correct to guess that it then goes to the new board to settle?
DTA members should carefully choose to vote for individually.
The two that I see being most favorable to teachers at this time are Spector and Schelen.
If you look at who is supporting the others they have people who have not been favorable to teachers in the past.
The school district is facing declining enrollment that could lead to the districting losing around $600,000 in ADA next year.
This is a direct consequence of development policies, with which the school board in the Saylor/Asmundson era acquiesced, that emphasized single family dwellings for initially middle, and then, increasingly, upper middle income people, throughout the 1990s into the early part of this decade.
If people think things are bad now, the enrollment numbers could go over a cliff in the next decade, with Davis lacking sufficient housing for young people as well as middle and lower middle income workers. This is an issue that requires immediate study to find out if a Titanic size iceberg lies out there.
The Covell Center article is down thread, but one type of development that would be entirely acceptable there would be something along the lines of cooperative housing created by unions in New York City (I mean in terms of purpose and financing, not necessarily design). Unions there, like the garment workers one and others, participated in the financing of projects that provided permanent homes for their members. Many of these projects still exist, and people live in them quite comfortably, people who could not otherwise afford to live and work in New York City to provide essential services.
Imagine a Covell Center development with development funds contributed by SEIU, CTA, AFSCME, just to name a few, to create affordable housing for their members who work in the school district, at the university and in lower wage service jobs throughout the region.
Of course, it would require a density that has been historically anathema to the city and its residents, but it would integrate the workforce of Yolo County into the city, with environmental benefits, less car trips, and shorter ones when necessary, while providing a new generation of students to maintain the DJUSD in its current form.
Union involvement in the project would result in the delivery of housing to local workers in a way that would otherwise be legally difficult if not impossible for private developers and governmental entities.
–Richard Estes
The school district is facing declining enrollment that could lead to the districting losing around $600,000 in ADA next year.
This is a direct consequence of development policies, with which the school board in the Saylor/Asmundson era acquiesced, that emphasized single family dwellings for initially middle, and then, increasingly, upper middle income people, throughout the 1990s into the early part of this decade.
If people think things are bad now, the enrollment numbers could go over a cliff in the next decade, with Davis lacking sufficient housing for young people as well as middle and lower middle income workers. This is an issue that requires immediate study to find out if a Titanic size iceberg lies out there.
The Covell Center article is down thread, but one type of development that would be entirely acceptable there would be something along the lines of cooperative housing created by unions in New York City (I mean in terms of purpose and financing, not necessarily design). Unions there, like the garment workers one and others, participated in the financing of projects that provided permanent homes for their members. Many of these projects still exist, and people live in them quite comfortably, people who could not otherwise afford to live and work in New York City to provide essential services.
Imagine a Covell Center development with development funds contributed by SEIU, CTA, AFSCME, just to name a few, to create affordable housing for their members who work in the school district, at the university and in lower wage service jobs throughout the region.
Of course, it would require a density that has been historically anathema to the city and its residents, but it would integrate the workforce of Yolo County into the city, with environmental benefits, less car trips, and shorter ones when necessary, while providing a new generation of students to maintain the DJUSD in its current form.
Union involvement in the project would result in the delivery of housing to local workers in a way that would otherwise be legally difficult if not impossible for private developers and governmental entities.
–Richard Estes
The school district is facing declining enrollment that could lead to the districting losing around $600,000 in ADA next year.
This is a direct consequence of development policies, with which the school board in the Saylor/Asmundson era acquiesced, that emphasized single family dwellings for initially middle, and then, increasingly, upper middle income people, throughout the 1990s into the early part of this decade.
If people think things are bad now, the enrollment numbers could go over a cliff in the next decade, with Davis lacking sufficient housing for young people as well as middle and lower middle income workers. This is an issue that requires immediate study to find out if a Titanic size iceberg lies out there.
The Covell Center article is down thread, but one type of development that would be entirely acceptable there would be something along the lines of cooperative housing created by unions in New York City (I mean in terms of purpose and financing, not necessarily design). Unions there, like the garment workers one and others, participated in the financing of projects that provided permanent homes for their members. Many of these projects still exist, and people live in them quite comfortably, people who could not otherwise afford to live and work in New York City to provide essential services.
Imagine a Covell Center development with development funds contributed by SEIU, CTA, AFSCME, just to name a few, to create affordable housing for their members who work in the school district, at the university and in lower wage service jobs throughout the region.
Of course, it would require a density that has been historically anathema to the city and its residents, but it would integrate the workforce of Yolo County into the city, with environmental benefits, less car trips, and shorter ones when necessary, while providing a new generation of students to maintain the DJUSD in its current form.
Union involvement in the project would result in the delivery of housing to local workers in a way that would otherwise be legally difficult if not impossible for private developers and governmental entities.
–Richard Estes
The school district is facing declining enrollment that could lead to the districting losing around $600,000 in ADA next year.
This is a direct consequence of development policies, with which the school board in the Saylor/Asmundson era acquiesced, that emphasized single family dwellings for initially middle, and then, increasingly, upper middle income people, throughout the 1990s into the early part of this decade.
If people think things are bad now, the enrollment numbers could go over a cliff in the next decade, with Davis lacking sufficient housing for young people as well as middle and lower middle income workers. This is an issue that requires immediate study to find out if a Titanic size iceberg lies out there.
The Covell Center article is down thread, but one type of development that would be entirely acceptable there would be something along the lines of cooperative housing created by unions in New York City (I mean in terms of purpose and financing, not necessarily design). Unions there, like the garment workers one and others, participated in the financing of projects that provided permanent homes for their members. Many of these projects still exist, and people live in them quite comfortably, people who could not otherwise afford to live and work in New York City to provide essential services.
Imagine a Covell Center development with development funds contributed by SEIU, CTA, AFSCME, just to name a few, to create affordable housing for their members who work in the school district, at the university and in lower wage service jobs throughout the region.
Of course, it would require a density that has been historically anathema to the city and its residents, but it would integrate the workforce of Yolo County into the city, with environmental benefits, less car trips, and shorter ones when necessary, while providing a new generation of students to maintain the DJUSD in its current form.
Union involvement in the project would result in the delivery of housing to local workers in a way that would otherwise be legally difficult if not impossible for private developers and governmental entities.
–Richard Estes
I think the teachers pay too much of their health care costs. I hope the district will make this a high priority in the next couple years…higher than anything else I can think of. We clearly cannot afford to approve any new programs/spending such as a charter school….
I think the teachers pay too much of their health care costs. I hope the district will make this a high priority in the next couple years…higher than anything else I can think of. We clearly cannot afford to approve any new programs/spending such as a charter school….
I think the teachers pay too much of their health care costs. I hope the district will make this a high priority in the next couple years…higher than anything else I can think of. We clearly cannot afford to approve any new programs/spending such as a charter school….
I think the teachers pay too much of their health care costs. I hope the district will make this a high priority in the next couple years…higher than anything else I can think of. We clearly cannot afford to approve any new programs/spending such as a charter school….
In a town where we support high salaries and platinum health benefits for fire fighters and other city employees, plus lifetime health benefits for city retirees, we tolerate mediocre salaries and health benefits that cost teachers up to a third of that salary. No wonder we have mediocrity in our schools where attention is put on only those kids who are doing well or exceling, where things like truancy is only dealt with when there is perceived to be a financial benefit and only dealt with enough to achieve that financial, where the achievement gap was a dirty little secret hidden away behind the norm of test scores.
I wonder what would happen if we passed a bond that covered full health care for our teachers, decent salaries and paid them for more hours outside the classroom to be directed towards enrichment (music, art, vocational training, mentoring, tutoring, home visits, collaboration around specific struggling students). Would we have happier, healthier teachers and a better school system?
In a town where we support high salaries and platinum health benefits for fire fighters and other city employees, plus lifetime health benefits for city retirees, we tolerate mediocre salaries and health benefits that cost teachers up to a third of that salary. No wonder we have mediocrity in our schools where attention is put on only those kids who are doing well or exceling, where things like truancy is only dealt with when there is perceived to be a financial benefit and only dealt with enough to achieve that financial, where the achievement gap was a dirty little secret hidden away behind the norm of test scores.
I wonder what would happen if we passed a bond that covered full health care for our teachers, decent salaries and paid them for more hours outside the classroom to be directed towards enrichment (music, art, vocational training, mentoring, tutoring, home visits, collaboration around specific struggling students). Would we have happier, healthier teachers and a better school system?
In a town where we support high salaries and platinum health benefits for fire fighters and other city employees, plus lifetime health benefits for city retirees, we tolerate mediocre salaries and health benefits that cost teachers up to a third of that salary. No wonder we have mediocrity in our schools where attention is put on only those kids who are doing well or exceling, where things like truancy is only dealt with when there is perceived to be a financial benefit and only dealt with enough to achieve that financial, where the achievement gap was a dirty little secret hidden away behind the norm of test scores.
I wonder what would happen if we passed a bond that covered full health care for our teachers, decent salaries and paid them for more hours outside the classroom to be directed towards enrichment (music, art, vocational training, mentoring, tutoring, home visits, collaboration around specific struggling students). Would we have happier, healthier teachers and a better school system?
In a town where we support high salaries and platinum health benefits for fire fighters and other city employees, plus lifetime health benefits for city retirees, we tolerate mediocre salaries and health benefits that cost teachers up to a third of that salary. No wonder we have mediocrity in our schools where attention is put on only those kids who are doing well or exceling, where things like truancy is only dealt with when there is perceived to be a financial benefit and only dealt with enough to achieve that financial, where the achievement gap was a dirty little secret hidden away behind the norm of test scores.
I wonder what would happen if we passed a bond that covered full health care for our teachers, decent salaries and paid them for more hours outside the classroom to be directed towards enrichment (music, art, vocational training, mentoring, tutoring, home visits, collaboration around specific struggling students). Would we have happier, healthier teachers and a better school system?
Anonymous 10:41 – I agree that it is fairly disturbing that we pay firefighters, police officers, and city administrators some hefty salaries/health care insurance package / retirement, etc. and pay our teachers such a mediocre salary. TO TOP IT OFF, some have to pay $900 plus for health care??? This is bad!
Gone will be the days when Davis is known for its schools.
If we don’t even take care of the very people (teachers) who prepare children for the future then it just doesn’t say much about the city’s / school district’s priorities.
Anonymous 10:41 – I agree that it is fairly disturbing that we pay firefighters, police officers, and city administrators some hefty salaries/health care insurance package / retirement, etc. and pay our teachers such a mediocre salary. TO TOP IT OFF, some have to pay $900 plus for health care??? This is bad!
Gone will be the days when Davis is known for its schools.
If we don’t even take care of the very people (teachers) who prepare children for the future then it just doesn’t say much about the city’s / school district’s priorities.
Anonymous 10:41 – I agree that it is fairly disturbing that we pay firefighters, police officers, and city administrators some hefty salaries/health care insurance package / retirement, etc. and pay our teachers such a mediocre salary. TO TOP IT OFF, some have to pay $900 plus for health care??? This is bad!
Gone will be the days when Davis is known for its schools.
If we don’t even take care of the very people (teachers) who prepare children for the future then it just doesn’t say much about the city’s / school district’s priorities.
Anonymous 10:41 – I agree that it is fairly disturbing that we pay firefighters, police officers, and city administrators some hefty salaries/health care insurance package / retirement, etc. and pay our teachers such a mediocre salary. TO TOP IT OFF, some have to pay $900 plus for health care??? This is bad!
Gone will be the days when Davis is known for its schools.
If we don’t even take care of the very people (teachers) who prepare children for the future then it just doesn’t say much about the city’s / school district’s priorities.
Anonymous 9:17 said
There is no way that a pool of external students would provide enough money to cover the cost of the charter.
I thought that the Charter School concept had the State,for the most part,support the Charter School rather than the DJUSD budget. Otherwise, it would make little sense to give the School
District so little discretion in approving a Charter School if it meets the essential criterea, as I understand is the case.
Anonymous 9:17 said
There is no way that a pool of external students would provide enough money to cover the cost of the charter.
I thought that the Charter School concept had the State,for the most part,support the Charter School rather than the DJUSD budget. Otherwise, it would make little sense to give the School
District so little discretion in approving a Charter School if it meets the essential criterea, as I understand is the case.
Anonymous 9:17 said
There is no way that a pool of external students would provide enough money to cover the cost of the charter.
I thought that the Charter School concept had the State,for the most part,support the Charter School rather than the DJUSD budget. Otherwise, it would make little sense to give the School
District so little discretion in approving a Charter School if it meets the essential criterea, as I understand is the case.
Anonymous 9:17 said
There is no way that a pool of external students would provide enough money to cover the cost of the charter.
I thought that the Charter School concept had the State,for the most part,support the Charter School rather than the DJUSD budget. Otherwise, it would make little sense to give the School
District so little discretion in approving a Charter School if it meets the essential criterea, as I understand is the case.
I thought that the Charter School concept had the State,for the most part,support the Charter School rather than the DJUSD budget.
No, the money is still drawn from District ADA funds.
I thought that the Charter School concept had the State,for the most part,support the Charter School rather than the DJUSD budget.
No, the money is still drawn from District ADA funds.
I thought that the Charter School concept had the State,for the most part,support the Charter School rather than the DJUSD budget.
No, the money is still drawn from District ADA funds.
I thought that the Charter School concept had the State,for the most part,support the Charter School rather than the DJUSD budget.
No, the money is still drawn from District ADA funds.
To add to the previous comment, the district gets separate charter ADA funds but they lose the ADA funds for the kids in the charter who were previously in the regular District ADA, so it’s a zero-sum game with the exception of out of district students.
To add to the previous comment, the district gets separate charter ADA funds but they lose the ADA funds for the kids in the charter who were previously in the regular District ADA, so it’s a zero-sum game with the exception of out of district students.
To add to the previous comment, the district gets separate charter ADA funds but they lose the ADA funds for the kids in the charter who were previously in the regular District ADA, so it’s a zero-sum game with the exception of out of district students.
To add to the previous comment, the district gets separate charter ADA funds but they lose the ADA funds for the kids in the charter who were previously in the regular District ADA, so it’s a zero-sum game with the exception of out of district students.
One of the districts with the best pay and benefits in the region is ELK Grove, where, as you know, they build so many houses that it clogs the roads and the schools. Could there be a relationship between declining enrollment and the Davis housing market? I think there is this relationship. If houses are too expensive people with young kids can’t afford them.
Another issue is reduction in force. If there is declining enrollment shouldn’t there be commensurate reductions in administration, capital outlay, maintenance,faculty etc. You only need to shrink your budget on the backs of the teachers if you are not willing to make the needed cuts and distribute the cola equitibly.
As for the kids, they have well educated parents in Davis, they will do fine. School may not be as enriching an experience but to say the schools in Davis will become mediocre with declining enrollment minimizes the important roll of parents in education. Still if that tax doesn’t pass it will be hard on the entire system and the entire school community will suffer.
It would be good to hear from the candidates themselves on this issue. I would be very interested in what they have to say about it.
Ron Glick
One of the districts with the best pay and benefits in the region is ELK Grove, where, as you know, they build so many houses that it clogs the roads and the schools. Could there be a relationship between declining enrollment and the Davis housing market? I think there is this relationship. If houses are too expensive people with young kids can’t afford them.
Another issue is reduction in force. If there is declining enrollment shouldn’t there be commensurate reductions in administration, capital outlay, maintenance,faculty etc. You only need to shrink your budget on the backs of the teachers if you are not willing to make the needed cuts and distribute the cola equitibly.
As for the kids, they have well educated parents in Davis, they will do fine. School may not be as enriching an experience but to say the schools in Davis will become mediocre with declining enrollment minimizes the important roll of parents in education. Still if that tax doesn’t pass it will be hard on the entire system and the entire school community will suffer.
It would be good to hear from the candidates themselves on this issue. I would be very interested in what they have to say about it.
Ron Glick
One of the districts with the best pay and benefits in the region is ELK Grove, where, as you know, they build so many houses that it clogs the roads and the schools. Could there be a relationship between declining enrollment and the Davis housing market? I think there is this relationship. If houses are too expensive people with young kids can’t afford them.
Another issue is reduction in force. If there is declining enrollment shouldn’t there be commensurate reductions in administration, capital outlay, maintenance,faculty etc. You only need to shrink your budget on the backs of the teachers if you are not willing to make the needed cuts and distribute the cola equitibly.
As for the kids, they have well educated parents in Davis, they will do fine. School may not be as enriching an experience but to say the schools in Davis will become mediocre with declining enrollment minimizes the important roll of parents in education. Still if that tax doesn’t pass it will be hard on the entire system and the entire school community will suffer.
It would be good to hear from the candidates themselves on this issue. I would be very interested in what they have to say about it.
Ron Glick
One of the districts with the best pay and benefits in the region is ELK Grove, where, as you know, they build so many houses that it clogs the roads and the schools. Could there be a relationship between declining enrollment and the Davis housing market? I think there is this relationship. If houses are too expensive people with young kids can’t afford them.
Another issue is reduction in force. If there is declining enrollment shouldn’t there be commensurate reductions in administration, capital outlay, maintenance,faculty etc. You only need to shrink your budget on the backs of the teachers if you are not willing to make the needed cuts and distribute the cola equitibly.
As for the kids, they have well educated parents in Davis, they will do fine. School may not be as enriching an experience but to say the schools in Davis will become mediocre with declining enrollment minimizes the important roll of parents in education. Still if that tax doesn’t pass it will be hard on the entire system and the entire school community will suffer.
It would be good to hear from the candidates themselves on this issue. I would be very interested in what they have to say about it.
Ron Glick
Ron,
Your implying that mediocracy doesn’t already exist. It does, but not for the motivated, engaged student. They do just fine and would do fine regardless. Maybe it has something to do with the income level of their parents. That is probably part of it – lots of opportunity for enrichment and academic support. Where the mediocracy shows up is the student who would take more work – the student that falls behind, doesn’t have the support at home, is truant, has mental health or physical health issues, is bullied, or has not been able to build an attachment to their school. The teachers are not paid to spend the time it would take to help these students. These kids are regularly pushed aside, transferred to another school site or end up in juvenile court. The “No Child Left Behind” Act (despite all that is wrong with it) has helped uncover the achievement gap in Davis schools, roughly 1/3 of DHS students are truant (the new Director of Student Services tried to introduce a Truancy Management Plan that was designed to capture lost revenue, not to help students succeed). School Administrators are more worried about catching and expelling kids who are high on drugs than figuring out why drug use is so pervasive at the High School. Ectasy is a popular drug of choice – from what I learned, it makes you feel happy and alive and full of energy. Go figure. Expelling the “bad” kids is not going to get rid of that problem. Personal connection, a feeling of attachment to thier school and achievement is a strategy that seems to be beyond comprehension for dealing with these kids.
Teachers are severely underpaid when you consider the cost they bear to purchase health insurance. So what can we expect? Of course, they are going to focus on the easy, connected, and willing students in their classes.
Ron,
Your implying that mediocracy doesn’t already exist. It does, but not for the motivated, engaged student. They do just fine and would do fine regardless. Maybe it has something to do with the income level of their parents. That is probably part of it – lots of opportunity for enrichment and academic support. Where the mediocracy shows up is the student who would take more work – the student that falls behind, doesn’t have the support at home, is truant, has mental health or physical health issues, is bullied, or has not been able to build an attachment to their school. The teachers are not paid to spend the time it would take to help these students. These kids are regularly pushed aside, transferred to another school site or end up in juvenile court. The “No Child Left Behind” Act (despite all that is wrong with it) has helped uncover the achievement gap in Davis schools, roughly 1/3 of DHS students are truant (the new Director of Student Services tried to introduce a Truancy Management Plan that was designed to capture lost revenue, not to help students succeed). School Administrators are more worried about catching and expelling kids who are high on drugs than figuring out why drug use is so pervasive at the High School. Ectasy is a popular drug of choice – from what I learned, it makes you feel happy and alive and full of energy. Go figure. Expelling the “bad” kids is not going to get rid of that problem. Personal connection, a feeling of attachment to thier school and achievement is a strategy that seems to be beyond comprehension for dealing with these kids.
Teachers are severely underpaid when you consider the cost they bear to purchase health insurance. So what can we expect? Of course, they are going to focus on the easy, connected, and willing students in their classes.
Ron,
Your implying that mediocracy doesn’t already exist. It does, but not for the motivated, engaged student. They do just fine and would do fine regardless. Maybe it has something to do with the income level of their parents. That is probably part of it – lots of opportunity for enrichment and academic support. Where the mediocracy shows up is the student who would take more work – the student that falls behind, doesn’t have the support at home, is truant, has mental health or physical health issues, is bullied, or has not been able to build an attachment to their school. The teachers are not paid to spend the time it would take to help these students. These kids are regularly pushed aside, transferred to another school site or end up in juvenile court. The “No Child Left Behind” Act (despite all that is wrong with it) has helped uncover the achievement gap in Davis schools, roughly 1/3 of DHS students are truant (the new Director of Student Services tried to introduce a Truancy Management Plan that was designed to capture lost revenue, not to help students succeed). School Administrators are more worried about catching and expelling kids who are high on drugs than figuring out why drug use is so pervasive at the High School. Ectasy is a popular drug of choice – from what I learned, it makes you feel happy and alive and full of energy. Go figure. Expelling the “bad” kids is not going to get rid of that problem. Personal connection, a feeling of attachment to thier school and achievement is a strategy that seems to be beyond comprehension for dealing with these kids.
Teachers are severely underpaid when you consider the cost they bear to purchase health insurance. So what can we expect? Of course, they are going to focus on the easy, connected, and willing students in their classes.
Ron,
Your implying that mediocracy doesn’t already exist. It does, but not for the motivated, engaged student. They do just fine and would do fine regardless. Maybe it has something to do with the income level of their parents. That is probably part of it – lots of opportunity for enrichment and academic support. Where the mediocracy shows up is the student who would take more work – the student that falls behind, doesn’t have the support at home, is truant, has mental health or physical health issues, is bullied, or has not been able to build an attachment to their school. The teachers are not paid to spend the time it would take to help these students. These kids are regularly pushed aside, transferred to another school site or end up in juvenile court. The “No Child Left Behind” Act (despite all that is wrong with it) has helped uncover the achievement gap in Davis schools, roughly 1/3 of DHS students are truant (the new Director of Student Services tried to introduce a Truancy Management Plan that was designed to capture lost revenue, not to help students succeed). School Administrators are more worried about catching and expelling kids who are high on drugs than figuring out why drug use is so pervasive at the High School. Ectasy is a popular drug of choice – from what I learned, it makes you feel happy and alive and full of energy. Go figure. Expelling the “bad” kids is not going to get rid of that problem. Personal connection, a feeling of attachment to thier school and achievement is a strategy that seems to be beyond comprehension for dealing with these kids.
Teachers are severely underpaid when you consider the cost they bear to purchase health insurance. So what can we expect? Of course, they are going to focus on the easy, connected, and willing students in their classes.
Who is more important – teachers or superintendent?
The new sup is set to make over 200k…
Who is more important – teachers or superintendent?
The new sup is set to make over 200k…
Who is more important – teachers or superintendent?
The new sup is set to make over 200k…
Who is more important – teachers or superintendent?
The new sup is set to make over 200k…
Both are important.
Both are important.
Both are important.
Both are important.
I agree both are important. I also would say that marginal cost over replacement is not enough to make a big impact on the budget.
I agree both are important. I also would say that marginal cost over replacement is not enough to make a big impact on the budget.
I agree both are important. I also would say that marginal cost over replacement is not enough to make a big impact on the budget.
I agree both are important. I also would say that marginal cost over replacement is not enough to make a big impact on the budget.
“Another issue is reduction in force. If there is declining enrollment shouldn’t there be commensurate reductions in administration, capital outlay, maintenance,faculty etc.”
I urge you to talk with your local principal and find out how close to the bone maintenance, etc. has already been cut. Let’s hear from the school neighbors who complain about too many weeds on the nearby campus, or teachers who have leaking roofs when rains come, or the A/C that doesn’t work on a 100 degree day at the beginning of school, or the teacher who has been waiting for a year to have a computer fixed….
The teachers aren’t the only DJUSD employees who pay through the nose for health insurance. *Everyone* who doesn’t have a family connection outside DJUSD pays redeculously high rates.
But as much as this may be an injustice…it’s also a symptom of medical and insurance systems out of control. With all the “progressives” commenting on this blog, I can’t believe there isn’t more outcry regarding a single payer health plan.
“Another issue is reduction in force. If there is declining enrollment shouldn’t there be commensurate reductions in administration, capital outlay, maintenance,faculty etc.”
I urge you to talk with your local principal and find out how close to the bone maintenance, etc. has already been cut. Let’s hear from the school neighbors who complain about too many weeds on the nearby campus, or teachers who have leaking roofs when rains come, or the A/C that doesn’t work on a 100 degree day at the beginning of school, or the teacher who has been waiting for a year to have a computer fixed….
The teachers aren’t the only DJUSD employees who pay through the nose for health insurance. *Everyone* who doesn’t have a family connection outside DJUSD pays redeculously high rates.
But as much as this may be an injustice…it’s also a symptom of medical and insurance systems out of control. With all the “progressives” commenting on this blog, I can’t believe there isn’t more outcry regarding a single payer health plan.
“Another issue is reduction in force. If there is declining enrollment shouldn’t there be commensurate reductions in administration, capital outlay, maintenance,faculty etc.”
I urge you to talk with your local principal and find out how close to the bone maintenance, etc. has already been cut. Let’s hear from the school neighbors who complain about too many weeds on the nearby campus, or teachers who have leaking roofs when rains come, or the A/C that doesn’t work on a 100 degree day at the beginning of school, or the teacher who has been waiting for a year to have a computer fixed….
The teachers aren’t the only DJUSD employees who pay through the nose for health insurance. *Everyone* who doesn’t have a family connection outside DJUSD pays redeculously high rates.
But as much as this may be an injustice…it’s also a symptom of medical and insurance systems out of control. With all the “progressives” commenting on this blog, I can’t believe there isn’t more outcry regarding a single payer health plan.
“Another issue is reduction in force. If there is declining enrollment shouldn’t there be commensurate reductions in administration, capital outlay, maintenance,faculty etc.”
I urge you to talk with your local principal and find out how close to the bone maintenance, etc. has already been cut. Let’s hear from the school neighbors who complain about too many weeds on the nearby campus, or teachers who have leaking roofs when rains come, or the A/C that doesn’t work on a 100 degree day at the beginning of school, or the teacher who has been waiting for a year to have a computer fixed….
The teachers aren’t the only DJUSD employees who pay through the nose for health insurance. *Everyone* who doesn’t have a family connection outside DJUSD pays redeculously high rates.
But as much as this may be an injustice…it’s also a symptom of medical and insurance systems out of control. With all the “progressives” commenting on this blog, I can’t believe there isn’t more outcry regarding a single payer health plan.
Woodland got 6.5% last year and so did Fairfield. So to say that Davis got so much last year is somewhat disengenuous.
Woodland got 6.5% last year and so did Fairfield. So to say that Davis got so much last year is somewhat disengenuous.
Woodland got 6.5% last year and so did Fairfield. So to say that Davis got so much last year is somewhat disengenuous.
Woodland got 6.5% last year and so did Fairfield. So to say that Davis got so much last year is somewhat disengenuous.
three points:
1. that’s a great idea about housing, richard.
2. any pay raise under the rate of inflation (which itself severely understates the actual cost of living increases, since official inflation #s don’t count energy, housing or insurance anymore) is an effective pay cut.
3. as long as health insurance corporations’ profit motive demands insurance rate increases exceeding the rate of inflation, we are going to see this problem with skyrocketing public payroll costs and imbalanced budgets. the teachers’ contract negotiations (and at the UC, the academic student employee contract negotiations) are a symptom of a broken healthcare system, and will not be dealt with effectively merely at the local level.
three points:
1. that’s a great idea about housing, richard.
2. any pay raise under the rate of inflation (which itself severely understates the actual cost of living increases, since official inflation #s don’t count energy, housing or insurance anymore) is an effective pay cut.
3. as long as health insurance corporations’ profit motive demands insurance rate increases exceeding the rate of inflation, we are going to see this problem with skyrocketing public payroll costs and imbalanced budgets. the teachers’ contract negotiations (and at the UC, the academic student employee contract negotiations) are a symptom of a broken healthcare system, and will not be dealt with effectively merely at the local level.
three points:
1. that’s a great idea about housing, richard.
2. any pay raise under the rate of inflation (which itself severely understates the actual cost of living increases, since official inflation #s don’t count energy, housing or insurance anymore) is an effective pay cut.
3. as long as health insurance corporations’ profit motive demands insurance rate increases exceeding the rate of inflation, we are going to see this problem with skyrocketing public payroll costs and imbalanced budgets. the teachers’ contract negotiations (and at the UC, the academic student employee contract negotiations) are a symptom of a broken healthcare system, and will not be dealt with effectively merely at the local level.
three points:
1. that’s a great idea about housing, richard.
2. any pay raise under the rate of inflation (which itself severely understates the actual cost of living increases, since official inflation #s don’t count energy, housing or insurance anymore) is an effective pay cut.
3. as long as health insurance corporations’ profit motive demands insurance rate increases exceeding the rate of inflation, we are going to see this problem with skyrocketing public payroll costs and imbalanced budgets. the teachers’ contract negotiations (and at the UC, the academic student employee contract negotiations) are a symptom of a broken healthcare system, and will not be dealt with effectively merely at the local level.