Monday, August 21, 2006
Huntley District 158 Teachers’ Contract: Payback Time
According to an April 2nd letter to the Northwest Herald, the “more than 400 member” Huntley Teachers Association’ political action committee endorsed Mike Skala, Shawn Green, Kimberly Skaja, R. Glen Stewart and Roger L. Henderson Jr.
All but Henderson, who was defeated by taxpayer-advocate Larry Snow, won.
Skala’s wife, by the way, teaches high school French.
Now, it’s new contract time and three of those endorsed candidates, plus retired teacher Rosemary Herringer, are, guess what, on the negotiating teams with the teachers union.
Green is a unionized public employee, too. A policeman.
Stewart, while no longer being a board member, now serves in a $101,000 job as Chief Operations Officer for Huntley School District 158, having been appointed by his colleagues of the Majority Six.
Stewart was approved to be on the negotiating team as a board member, but no action was taken since to keep him on the district’s side of the negotiating table.
Oh, yes.
The thankfully temporary “see-no evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil about school financial improprieties and who knows what else” former school superintendent Bob Hammon unfortunately didn’t disappear from the scene when John Burkey replaced him.
Former superintendent Hammon actually got paid as a consultant to help negotiate the contract.
So, in these negotiations, what could arguably be called “foxes” were on both sides of the table.
Negotiations, typically, and certainly in this case, have been kept secret from the taxpaying public.
But the old contract would have given every teacher a 3 1/2% so-called “step” (meaning automatic) 3 1/2 % increase, I’ve been told.
So every current teacher starts off with a 3 1/2% salary hike.
Pretty sweet. Not many people in the private sector are getting raises that high.
The question is how much sweeter the teachers’ pay checks will be after Tuesday’s raid on the taxpayers’ honey pot, if the school board s Majority Five returns the teachers’ union’s PAC’s election support.
It has been estimated that the total salary hike could be as high as 10-16%, for some teachers, or a group of them.
Although the vote is scheduled to be taken Tuesday night, the public may not be allowed to know about the size of the income transfer from their pockets to the teachers’ until the union has a chance to vote on (and I really mean, in this case, approve) it.
Oh, you’ll find out which board members will vote to approve the contract, but we already know the contract will pass handily, with at least the votes of the Majority Five.
Like so many decisions on the Huntley School Board (and other local governments), that has been decided before the meeting.
You can guess who is not one bit happy about the secrecy and the some of the exorbitant expected raises.
That’s right.
Larry Snow.
Here’s what he had to say Sunday:
You can bet the teachers will be knocking on doors next spring to make sure they retain a majority of the board in their pockets.
All but Henderson, who was defeated by taxpayer-advocate Larry Snow, won.
Skala’s wife, by the way, teaches high school French.
Now, it’s new contract time and three of those endorsed candidates, plus retired teacher Rosemary Herringer, are, guess what, on the negotiating teams with the teachers union.
Green is a unionized public employee, too. A policeman.
Stewart, while no longer being a board member, now serves in a $101,000 job as Chief Operations Officer for Huntley School District 158, having been appointed by his colleagues of the Majority Six.
Stewart was approved to be on the negotiating team as a board member, but no action was taken since to keep him on the district’s side of the negotiating table.
Oh, yes.
The thankfully temporary “see-no evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil about school financial improprieties and who knows what else” former school superintendent Bob Hammon unfortunately didn’t disappear from the scene when John Burkey replaced him.
Former superintendent Hammon actually got paid as a consultant to help negotiate the contract.
So, in these negotiations, what could arguably be called “foxes” were on both sides of the table.
Negotiations, typically, and certainly in this case, have been kept secret from the taxpaying public.
But the old contract would have given every teacher a 3 1/2% so-called “step” (meaning automatic) 3 1/2 % increase, I’ve been told.
So every current teacher starts off with a 3 1/2% salary hike.
Pretty sweet. Not many people in the private sector are getting raises that high.
The question is how much sweeter the teachers’ pay checks will be after Tuesday’s raid on the taxpayers’ honey pot, if the school board s Majority Five returns the teachers’ union’s PAC’s election support.
It has been estimated that the total salary hike could be as high as 10-16%, for some teachers, or a group of them.
Although the vote is scheduled to be taken Tuesday night, the public may not be allowed to know about the size of the income transfer from their pockets to the teachers’ until the union has a chance to vote on (and I really mean, in this case, approve) it.
Oh, you’ll find out which board members will vote to approve the contract, but we already know the contract will pass handily, with at least the votes of the Majority Five.
Like so many decisions on the Huntley School Board (and other local governments), that has been decided before the meeting.You can guess who is not one bit happy about the secrecy and the some of the exorbitant expected raises.
That’s right.
Larry Snow.
Here’s what he had to say Sunday:
Based on what I know, I’m not voting for this contract.It doesn’t look like the taxpayers are going to come out on top Tuesday, but it ought to be an interesting meeting.
It amazes me that the negotiating committee (Shawn Green and Rosemary Herringer) asked all of the board members to do a tentative vote without having seen one sentence in writing about it. Is this acceptable behavior?
Mr. Green has refused to provide one written sentence about this contract.
How can I vote to approve this contract without having a copy?
(Besides that) did residents vote for the property tax increase in 2004 to give a group of high school teachers, including Mike Skala’s wife, a 10-16% increase?
Stewart cashed in and (now) it looks like the board members want to reward the (president of the school board) Mike Skala household.
Besides that, the board hired former temporary superintendent Bob Hammond as a consultant.
Mr. Hammon didn’t notify all the board members about the alleged payroll theft, so not providing anything in writing about this contract to all the board members doesn’t surprise me, but it is totally unacceptable behavior.
The board never voted for Glen Stewart to be on the negotiating committee as an administrator. I was totally surprised to learn that he was in on the final negotiations.
He’s on the negotiating committee without board authorization.
You can bet the teachers will be knocking on doors next spring to make sure they retain a majority of the board in their pockets.
Labels: Bob Hammon, Glen Stewart, Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, John Burkey, Kim Skaja, Larry Snow, Roger Henderson, Rosemary Herringer, Shawn Green
Comments:
<< Home
It's not April Fools Day but this must be a joke!
Today's Daily Herald "New contract in Dist. 158 gives teachers 4 percent raise" By Jeffrey Gaunt
August 21, 2006 talks about a two year contract(meaning taxpayers get hit up for more in two years whether or not the kids learn anything), a MANDATORY 4% raise ths year, A MANDATORY 5% the next, two less work days, and H.S teachers who teach six classes now would only teach five - or would get extra pay for the sixth. Why - so they can all sit around and stare at D158's declining ACT scores that are under state average and which happened on their watch? Gee - a hidden extra raise in the form of a slick "now you see it, now you don't sixth period".
As to those scores - D158 can't blame a lack of buildings, money or teachers anymore. That decoy diversion is history. It's the staff and the board who are responsisble.
Why don't we just let them (teachers and administrators) stay home completely and send them a check....an unemployment check. Instead of letting them hold Reality World taxpayers hostage by using their kids as a bargaining chip the public might just grow a spine!
Mandatory raises are a joke. Raises and benefits above and beyond what taxpayers make or can afford are a joke.
D158's board majority? Out of touch or pushing personal biased agendas and should be petitioned out now.
Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Aunties, Uncles and caring individuals - hide your almost empty wallets - these folks don't "get" it.
They are protecting the host and themselves and you and your kids are the street people outside their castle.
Today's Daily Herald "New contract in Dist. 158 gives teachers 4 percent raise" By Jeffrey Gaunt
August 21, 2006 talks about a two year contract(meaning taxpayers get hit up for more in two years whether or not the kids learn anything), a MANDATORY 4% raise ths year, A MANDATORY 5% the next, two less work days, and H.S teachers who teach six classes now would only teach five - or would get extra pay for the sixth. Why - so they can all sit around and stare at D158's declining ACT scores that are under state average and which happened on their watch? Gee - a hidden extra raise in the form of a slick "now you see it, now you don't sixth period".
As to those scores - D158 can't blame a lack of buildings, money or teachers anymore. That decoy diversion is history. It's the staff and the board who are responsisble.
Why don't we just let them (teachers and administrators) stay home completely and send them a check....an unemployment check. Instead of letting them hold Reality World taxpayers hostage by using their kids as a bargaining chip the public might just grow a spine!
Mandatory raises are a joke. Raises and benefits above and beyond what taxpayers make or can afford are a joke.
D158's board majority? Out of touch or pushing personal biased agendas and should be petitioned out now.
Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Aunties, Uncles and caring individuals - hide your almost empty wallets - these folks don't "get" it.
They are protecting the host and themselves and you and your kids are the street people outside their castle.
Here's smile for you - posting on two spots -
Every time a school district is going to give away your money to teachers or administrators - just as the District can "find" a way to contact every household with its fluffy public relations propaganda newsletters - make it law that they must give everyone notice two weeks in advance of the meeting where they will discuss the contract. Then, if residents are stupid enough to not get involved (1) they deserve to have their savings gutted and (2) those who are too apathetic to be informed or protest can pay for those who do what has to be done.
Stealth contract approval is repugnant. There are some meetings that should require more than current legal time requirements.
Every time a school district is going to give away your money to teachers or administrators - just as the District can "find" a way to contact every household with its fluffy public relations propaganda newsletters - make it law that they must give everyone notice two weeks in advance of the meeting where they will discuss the contract. Then, if residents are stupid enough to not get involved (1) they deserve to have their savings gutted and (2) those who are too apathetic to be informed or protest can pay for those who do what has to be done.
Stealth contract approval is repugnant. There are some meetings that should require more than current legal time requirements.
The D158 School Board of Education is eminently fair in the way it conducts its meetings. It allows you three minutes to make comments, suggestions, or ask questions in the public fouum part of the meeting.
It matters not how complex, how complicated, nor how important the topic. Three minutes, that's it,folks.
Yet, the board took three hours at its meeting on Monday, August 21 to grind through an executive session while interested taxpayers waited until midnight to learn NOTHING!
It could not decide whether it should ratify the newly-minted contract agreed to by the negotiations committee. (The word MINTED is used advisedly because the teachers will receive total remuneration approaching the money in the mint in Fort Knox.)
If preliminary reports are accurate, the high school teachers in the district will receive a 4% across-the board raise, including step and column automatic raise. At least, this much was confirmed by Board President Scala when he said the preliminary budget will show this four percent increase.
When I asked about the 1% additional raise that came about because the work year was reduced from 185 to 183 days (A one percent value) there was no response.
And what about the total increased cost of the giant give-away, a full period in the teaching day? Of course, for those many teacers who get to ride on this gravy train, they will receive an additional $4,500 for this teaching period. "Is this included in the 4% teacher package?" I asked.
The response: "I don't believe it is."
There you have it. In reality, the Board does not really know the total cost of the new contract. So, how could the members vote on it without knowing its true cost?
And what about any discussion of any increases in the fringe benefit package? What is that going to cost?
Perhaps Mr. Skala's response to an earlier question I posed is also applicable here. "When we know, you will know."
In my opinion, this is tantamount to saying that we as a board do not really know what we are doing here. We are not sure how much of the store we are giving away in this contract.
Since the board could not tell us how many high school teachers will be the beneficiaries of their largess, with our tax dollars, of course, we will just have to guess at the amount.
This much is clear. For every high school teacher who earned $45,000 or less for the 2005-2006 school year, the $4,500 giveaway represents a 10% increase ON TOP OF the 4% across the board increase.
Now, let's total that up:
4% across the board
1% fewer working days
10% paid for no additional time
teaching over the past years
??? additional increases in fringe
benefits.
15% at least! And, in some cases a higher percent because 23 teachers received their masters degrees and will receive another automatic increase of 2% as they move to another pay column on the salary schedule.
Yep, it looks like Larry Snow's comments in the Daily Herald about the exorbitant increases afforded to some of the district's teachers will definitely fall in the 10-16% range.
When will we really know the total and accurate percentage increase for the teachers? Will Dr. Burkey, in his super pledge, to tell us the truth, the whole truch, and all of the truth,honestly come forth with all the facts in the next edition of the District Newsletter?
Will this honest expose be on the front page of the paper? Will page two and three print the complete two-year salary schedule for all of us taxpayers to see? After all, why would the district want to hide this most powerful expenditure from all of its parents?
If he does, he will maintain my trust in him. If he does not, then I and most of my fellow-taxpayers will probably write him off as a phoney...or worse.
The challenge for transparency is there. Will he accept it?
Stay tuned.
Post a Comment
It matters not how complex, how complicated, nor how important the topic. Three minutes, that's it,folks.
Yet, the board took three hours at its meeting on Monday, August 21 to grind through an executive session while interested taxpayers waited until midnight to learn NOTHING!
It could not decide whether it should ratify the newly-minted contract agreed to by the negotiations committee. (The word MINTED is used advisedly because the teachers will receive total remuneration approaching the money in the mint in Fort Knox.)
If preliminary reports are accurate, the high school teachers in the district will receive a 4% across-the board raise, including step and column automatic raise. At least, this much was confirmed by Board President Scala when he said the preliminary budget will show this four percent increase.
When I asked about the 1% additional raise that came about because the work year was reduced from 185 to 183 days (A one percent value) there was no response.
And what about the total increased cost of the giant give-away, a full period in the teaching day? Of course, for those many teacers who get to ride on this gravy train, they will receive an additional $4,500 for this teaching period. "Is this included in the 4% teacher package?" I asked.
The response: "I don't believe it is."
There you have it. In reality, the Board does not really know the total cost of the new contract. So, how could the members vote on it without knowing its true cost?
And what about any discussion of any increases in the fringe benefit package? What is that going to cost?
Perhaps Mr. Skala's response to an earlier question I posed is also applicable here. "When we know, you will know."
In my opinion, this is tantamount to saying that we as a board do not really know what we are doing here. We are not sure how much of the store we are giving away in this contract.
Since the board could not tell us how many high school teachers will be the beneficiaries of their largess, with our tax dollars, of course, we will just have to guess at the amount.
This much is clear. For every high school teacher who earned $45,000 or less for the 2005-2006 school year, the $4,500 giveaway represents a 10% increase ON TOP OF the 4% across the board increase.
Now, let's total that up:
4% across the board
1% fewer working days
10% paid for no additional time
teaching over the past years
??? additional increases in fringe
benefits.
15% at least! And, in some cases a higher percent because 23 teachers received their masters degrees and will receive another automatic increase of 2% as they move to another pay column on the salary schedule.
Yep, it looks like Larry Snow's comments in the Daily Herald about the exorbitant increases afforded to some of the district's teachers will definitely fall in the 10-16% range.
When will we really know the total and accurate percentage increase for the teachers? Will Dr. Burkey, in his super pledge, to tell us the truth, the whole truch, and all of the truth,honestly come forth with all the facts in the next edition of the District Newsletter?
Will this honest expose be on the front page of the paper? Will page two and three print the complete two-year salary schedule for all of us taxpayers to see? After all, why would the district want to hide this most powerful expenditure from all of its parents?
If he does, he will maintain my trust in him. If he does not, then I and most of my fellow-taxpayers will probably write him off as a phoney...or worse.
The challenge for transparency is there. Will he accept it?
Stay tuned.
<< Home
