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The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.
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Lodi Unified School District administrators to act as department chairs
Principals, others to fill instruction gaps; teachers' union files charges over decision
This school year, there will be fewer department leaders who help choose new curriculum, oversee student performance and guide younger teachers.
Those gaps instead will be filled by administrators like Lodi High School principal Bill Atterberry.
"There is no way we can serve the role as effectively as teacher leaders — and I am confident that they will still emerge — but the work will go on," he said, of the myriad of duties chairs previously held.
When Lodi Unified classes resumed Tuesday, three of the four high schools were down an equivalent of 5.6 full-time department chairs at a savings of $350,325. McNair High School still has chairs because they are funded differently, according to Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer.
The district plans to fill the holes with additional clerical assistance. That staff will attend to the non-curriculum and instruction elements of the former department chair responsibilities, which include ordering supplies.
But the teachers' union is questioning the legality of the school board's decision and has filed a charge of unfair labor practices against the district.
When trustees decided to eliminate the positions, they didn't take into account the contract which mandates department chairs, according to Sue Kenmotsu, Lodi Education Association president.
The district sought to eliminate the positions, she added, because the teachers who serve in that leadership capacity not only receive their regular preparation period, but an additional release period. This forces the hiring of additional teachers, which is an added cost.
"So they just eliminated the chairs. The district feels if they don't have department heads, they don't need to provide release periods," Kenmotsu said.
Lodi Unified School District department chairs at a glance
Among their duties:News-Sentinel staff
But Nichols-Washer defends the decision, and said the cut was recommended in order to keep class sizes down as low as possible and to keep programs in place for students.
"There is no doubt that schools will have to adjust and do without services due to the absence of department chairs. Those who have served as department chairs throughout the years have been teacher leaders and have provided a great deal of support to schools," she said. "The budget crisis has hurt the district, (and) this is one of many examples."
Of all the cuts at the high school level, the loss of department chairs is the most distressing to Atterberry. "I don't know how I will work without them," he said.
He is especially concerned for 2014, when the district will likely enter year five of program improvement, a status related to student performance which the principal feels is directly linked to department chairs.
"We still have serious curriculum and instruction work that needs to be done to improve the performance of all students while closing the achievement gap," Atterberry said. "Our department chairs were integral and essential to that process."
That task could be further strained with the elimination of the administration office's curriculum department, another victim of district-wide budget cuts.
During their daily release period, chairs prepared for teacher discussions about achievement data on student performance, classroom practices and common assessments.
"It will be a challenge to continue that work, but it must and will continue in some form," Atterberry said. "Our challenge will be to look beyond this hiccup and to move on."
Meanwhile, LEA has filed a charge with the Public Employees Relations Board against the district, calling the chair elimination decision an unfair labor practice.
The state agency which represents public employees can decide to hear the complaint. If it does, it will meet with involved parties and determine if there was a contract infraction, said Kenmotsu, who has already set up a meeting with department heads next week.
"It is creating a huge impact on our high schools because teachers are wondering where their materials are," she said Wednesday, the second day of the new school year. "So the question is, who's picking this work up? The answer is: no one."
In the end, Atterberry recognizes the task district leaders were up against to balance the budget and reduce close to $30 million. "Programs had to be cut. So I'm not complaining," he said.
Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.
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sven31 wrote on Aug 9, 2009 7:02 AM:
While in between full time assignments many, many years ago, I worked as a substitute teacher. On one day, a wonderful, bright, young woman came to class late. We spoke. That night she was murdered. Her killer waits a date with a needle and three chemicals.
Several times I've had to take combative kids down and disarmed them of knives and a gun. i didn't get a bonus for this. I got afternoons in court, waiting to testify.
Being a public school teacher today, is not always cozy and fuzzy and good feelings all the time while we take 7-9 weeks during the summer. It's not about not working nights, weekends, or holidays. The time off is usually a function of contractual agreements based on holidays enacted by state and federal governments. We can't change those things.
I would suppose in some parts of the country, teaching is easy. In urban CA, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.
We don't know how the day will end when we unlock that door. "
sven31 wrote on Aug 9, 2009 6:51 AM:
On the other hand, I've had in my classes students (8 or 9)who are sitting on death row for crimes committed, several before they graduated. Hmm. Sammy's been gone for 3 days, anyone know where he is? "Locked up for a murder" OK. Right now, sits a man waiting for a murder trial in a prominent regional homicide. The fate that brought the accused and the victim together for one instant happened long ago, before any of us heard their names. Con't "
sven31 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 5:28 PM:
I don't consider them to be the upper echelon where knowledge and history soften disputes. Others, like Cogito, if I may use him as an example, clearly articulate their position, mostly without personal attacks and even though I disagree with them, I like to hear their point of view. Cogito and I see the world entirely differently. You and I see it differently. I'm glad your here, dispite the gnashing of teeth on either side of our monitors.
Back to the discussion. Only teachers with 38-40 years of service get pensions approaching 100%. Most have saved money in 403's besides this. They cannot get social security and a STRS pension. Many work very long hours everyday and work several hours at home. As a nurse, you didn't have to buy bandages and tetanus vaccines when the hospital ran short did you? Of course not, yet teachers do this everyday. "
sven31 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 4:43 PM:
I post as I do against someone when they passing along in-correct information as evidence for their argument. You have many times been antagonistic towards me and others. And others have posted against you I think occasionally unfairly. Go back and check my posts, I never "fire" the first shot. There are others here I consider much worse whose only response is to call them names.
personalities. "
dyan wrote on Aug 7, 2009 1:13 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 7, 2009 1:10 PM:
sven31 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 11:51 AM:
Getting 6 or 7 weeks off in the summer (with no compensation)?
You are on the gravy train!!!
Do like buying:klenex, pencils, pens, markers, paper (copier/printer/lined/drawing/poster),extra socks and shoes and shoe laces and safety pins and band aids and napkins and bottled water and snacks on test days so the kids won't be taking the test on an empty stomach?
Maybe the poster of note would like to trade jobs for a week with a teacher just waiting for the 90% and free time off and never under the fear of being evaluated badly because the evaluator didn't like them.
Teaching is the easiest job in the world. To qualify, for the above perks, you merely have to hold 30 beach balls under water at the same time for 6.5 hours! "
sven31 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 11:41 AM:
No you don't major in "education" your fifth year. Depending on the school, you complete a bachelor's degree in a specified subject area (or liberal arts) and then take exams to certify you know about your subject. The fifth year is really a misnomer, as many teachers don't go right from senior year and graduation to a teacher preparation program. Even if they do, there is no such thing as an "education" major in CA that will get you a single or multiple subject credential.
And if you want to cut state personnel costs, you might want to focus on Corrections. "
teach247365 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 11:40 AM:
I just get tired of attitudes like yours that say all teachers are in it for "the perks." SOME are. Most are NOT. "
teach247365 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 11:38 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 7, 2009 10:35 AM:
Then we'll see whose right or wrong on that one. No time off? You could have fooled me. I thought the three major reasons for going into education were June July and August. "
dyan wrote on Aug 7, 2009 10:23 AM:
sven31 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 10:02 AM:
Did you even graduate high school? "
sven31 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 9:54 AM:
And thank you for you faux concern regarding my image. It isn't any matter for your concern. You also don't know what "soft money" in education denotes. "
sven31 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 9:42 AM:
Teachers every year expend thousands of dollars for pencils, paper, materials, etc. I've personally bought all of the above along with equipment, slides, consumables, displays, computer programs, and on and on. So I pay more in taxes and also more than most families have to spend. A lot of this can't be deducted. What is your contribution? Nag nag complain complain "
dyan wrote on Aug 7, 2009 9:41 AM:
You don't need to be hostile. It distorts your image as a "kind and loving" teacher. As I said before, if I were in your shoes, I'd be fighting for easy money too. Who gets more time off than a teacher? "
sven31 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 9:31 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 7, 2009 6:42 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 7, 2009 6:39 AM:
sven31 wrote on Aug 7, 2009 4:56 AM:
2. High cost of living
3. Can't be fired
4. Teachers already get a "prep" period. that's 17% of their salary. If they add a dept chair, it's now 34% of salary. In many districts, Chairs don't get a period off and they recieve a % of base salary (lowest amt.) I was one for years. I wish I had had an extra period off!
5. A quarter of a mil. to pay our leader Washer-Dryer? That's 50K more than the director of homeland security!! No wonder the state is broke! HS is a federal, not state job.
6."I could not be a teacher today with the insane PC rules and poor discipline"
You couldn't be a teacher at anytime.
It's clear you're an angry old woman who helped ruin the country, under educated, and probably slinging hash for a living, all the while bitching about everyone who has it better than you (which is most people). You're out of your element here. And you should have paid more attention in school. Light up another cigarette and watch your soaps! "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 6, 2009 8:51 PM:
dyan said, "We only attack without facts when we don't have any."
More proof dyan and Brian are one in the same. She speaks Brianese!
"dyan" it seems clear you are so critical of teachers because you apparently never had a good English instructor. "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 6, 2009 8:50 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 8:39 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 8:38 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 8:37 PM:
Lou wrote on Aug 6, 2009 6:57 PM:
Hey, we discussed this before. If you think what a teacher does is so easy then go shadow one for the day. I am in a position where I am in contact with teachers and administrators all the time. What I see is teachers so busy they must eat their lunch on the run (usually standing up) others that have told me they can't even stop to use the restroom when they need to.
Trust me, these folks earn every dollar we pay them. If you really want to educate yourself (find out what your saying has no merit) read the Education Code about a teachers statute responsibilites...it's mind boggling.
Dayan, you should stop riding this horse, nobody (who has brain one) will believe you.
Now, most top end administrators...now if you want to bitch about people getting paid too much for too little...start with those super stars. "
sven31 wrote on Aug 6, 2009 5:47 PM:
You have know idea what teachers do. As I said before, going to school doesn't make you an expert or even remotely qualified to speak on the teaching profession. All you're doing is throwing out anecdotes and parroting the critics on the right, who like you, know nothing.
If you're not screened out, why don't you volunteer at a local school, in the classroom helping kids who don't speak english or haven't learned to read yet or in the office calling parents and listen to what goes on beyond the handset. Do that and see how you feel. "
teach247365 wrote on Aug 6, 2009 4:33 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 4:26 PM:
They both do better than a teacher -right? LOL! "
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 4:15 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 4:10 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 4:09 PM:
SportsGuru wrote on Aug 6, 2009 1:45 PM:
.. not to MENTION the overly GENEROUS Pension Plans that our society will not be able to maintain? "
SportsGuru wrote on Aug 6, 2009 1:44 PM:
Dyan Wrote:
Ah sven - did I hit a nerve? Figure a teacher's pay by the hour. Compare that with the private sector. there is no comparison.
Dyan, did you factor in that most teachers only work full time for about 9 months out of the year to earn their annual salaries? "
Lodian wrote on Aug 6, 2009 1:29 PM:
LOL! Now that was funny! :-) "
sven31 wrote on Aug 6, 2009 11:55 AM:
a "plummer" is has something to do with a purple fruit. A "plumber" comes and reams your pipes. Maybe you missed that while your generation was ruining the country. And as to a much earlier post: your daughter earning a well deserved bonus and comparing that to a teacher's salary cannot be compared. Public school employees (rank and file) don't get bonuses of any kind. Ever. Many work very long days and throughout the weekend also. As for hitting a nerve. I don't think so. I spent over 20 years in an inner city high school. There is nothing you can say that hasn't been bettered by some kid a quarter your age. "
Bob Loblaw wrote on Aug 6, 2009 11:08 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 10:01 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 9:57 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 6, 2009 9:56 AM:
sven31 wrote on Aug 6, 2009 6:30 AM:
You don't know what your talking about. Having gone to a school doesn't make you knowledgable about teacher compensation.
Teachers are paid per diem (per day). Their per diem pay is spread out over 10-11-12 months. They don't get paid for weekends, holidays, "vacation" or break days. Only teachers that started very young and worked ~ 36+ years are eligible for a retirement at about 90%.
Most teacher now pay a portion of their "fully" paid insurance and have deductibles attached to services.
Teacher's who work extra hours for a variety of endeavors like summer school, actually get paid less per hour, than their regular compensation rate. What industry gets 70% compensation for overtime rather than 150%.
Teachers don't get bonuses at christmas and have little opportunity to generate additional income from their work. If you were a health professional, you could limit your practice, raise rates, etc. Teacher get whoever walks in the door and can't turn away anyone.
You shouldn't post on something you know absolutely nothing about. "
Lou wrote on Aug 6, 2009 5:30 AM:
Lou wrote on Aug 6, 2009 5:29 AM:
really represents the board's interests not teachers.
How many teachers will be fired this year? Will CTA again thank the board for their understanding and willingness to hear them out.
Most teachers I talk to (and I talk to many) can't tell you what CTA actually does for their membership. What little they have gained in wages they've given up in health care increases. "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 5, 2009 6:11 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 5, 2009 5:57 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 5, 2009 5:55 PM:
freespeech wrote on Aug 4, 2009 12:14 PM:
Lou wrote on Aug 4, 2009 7:01 AM:
Inside their own silk-pocket; yep, that seems about the right shoe size. If any teachers are reading this...I'd like to know what you think about your union. What do they really do for you?
If you say, represent our best interests then I am going to ask if you have any proof or evidence of that statement. Quite frankly, it looks like the teachers were sold out and then your union rep thanked the Board for what they did.
My guess is, there is more cuts for 2010 in-the-works. Has anyone figured out yet that "they" have made no real cuts at kleptocrat-central. Johnston's spot will be filled with another Johnston. The only administrator who got it in the neck was Anne C. and she only got it because she told the truth via the Board's mouthpiece LNS. "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 3, 2009 9:29 PM:
The bottom line on CTA -- they are in their own silk-lined pockets. "
Lou wrote on Aug 3, 2009 7:37 PM:
What union? At one point, in another life, I was a Teamster. Teamsters would not have gotten up in front of the L.U.S.D. Board and thanked them for only firing 180 of their members. When I worked as a Teamster we knew who our union worked for, us.
Be honest, who does your union work for. Isn't your rep even paid by the District? Tell me, what do they do for that hundred bucks a month you pay them?
Let's see, that would be 1,300 members times a hundred bucks...times 12 months a year, for how many years? Hey, that's 1.3 Million a year. What are the teachers' getting for their 1.3 Mill?
How's your insurance plan these days? Hey, Bob, isn't true that they are in the Board's silk-lined pocket or is that just a stupid rumor?
Your thoughts. "
oh really? wrote on Aug 3, 2009 5:35 PM:
Yes I know that loss of Dept. Chairs has added more to his schedule and as a result his comment about referring to the most distressing of cuts at the high school level. The 11 'let go' teachers probably are having to deal with something bigger than schedules; wouldn't you agree?
Yes, I know (first hand) that class sizes of 40-45 is miserable for ALL of the teachers. .I'm living it - it is frustrating when we are told, "just wait and it will all shake out and the numbers will come done some." What about having more students than desks?When Atterberry was in the classroom, sizes were not this high. I completely understand that class sizes are not his fault but a result of budget cuts. Unfortunately, he is so out of touch with with reality that probably 3/4 would celebrate if he left. When he first became Principal about 6 years ago, he actually seemed much more in touch with a reasonable ego. The last three years have been so unbearable! Some of the recent retirees would have stayed had his behavior not gotten out of control. "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 3, 2009 4:53 PM:
makes you think wrote on Aug 3, 2009 4:26 PM:
It is very sad and unacceptable that students have no grasp of history. Maybe they had Kreinke? From some blogs I have seen on his 'alleged' incident, he was teaching but maybe not only history. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 3, 2009 3:43 PM:
" Here's how I wish it could be:
1. Pay every teacher $100,000 per year
2. Disband CTA
3. Teachers work on a year-to-year contract. The good ones keep earning 100 grand, the bad ones are let go. Done. "
I like these ideas. Good suggestions. Finally someone willing to get to the point and stop just the complaining.
Now, how do we make this happen, Bob? "
Lodian wrote on Aug 3, 2009 3:37 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 3, 2009 3:32 PM:
Report Abuse
Bob: My apologies. I was addressing Lou and should have said, "Lou can rant and rave all he wants, but I haven't heard any viable ideas for change from him yet." In fact, he seems to purposely ignore the question and launch personal attacks to avoid the questions.
Anyway... "
Contrapasso wrote on Aug 3, 2009 1:04 PM:
Look at the new history books. I recently read a college history book that mentioned nothing about the Marine Corps' contributions to WWII. However, it did have a lovely article about the Eskimo contributions to the war effort, and the Windtalkers, and the women's contributions. I am not disparaging the efforts of the above mentioned groups, but to include them and leave out the Marine Corps is rewriting history.
That's why our students are lacking so much basic information: it's not politically correct! Therefore, it is cleansed from the textbooks! "
shockedinlodi wrote on Aug 3, 2009 9:32 AM:
Bob Loblaw wrote on Aug 3, 2009 9:09 AM:
shockedinlodi wrote on Aug 3, 2009 8:27 AM:
shockedinlodi wrote on Aug 3, 2009 8:26 AM:
shockedinlodi wrote on Aug 3, 2009 8:14 AM:
shockedinlodi wrote on Aug 3, 2009 8:09 AM:
Lodian - I believe that a community panel will be the only thing that now will work. I think we need to have a group of parents, teachers and local business owners come together and keep an eye on LUSD. This should be a group that can handle complaints against LUSD, and be able to take action. I have heard many stories of someone filing a complaint and their child is either target by the Principal and Vice Principal of the school or they are dismissed and give up.
LUSD is behind the times in computers. They do not have one staff member monitoring Facebook or myspace. You may ask why would the need to do that, last year I found 13 sites that targeted children and teachers of LUSD and when I reported it, I was told they couldn’t do anything about these sites. That is not correct. The LUSD has a working relationship with the Lodi Police Department and they can investigate these sites. They chose to ignore them. If they were plugged into myspace, they would have found out about Mr. Krienke three years ago. "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 3, 2009 12:19 AM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 2, 2009 10:56 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 2, 2009 10:52 PM:
shockedinlodi wrote on Aug 2, 2009 12:59 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 2, 2009 10:09 AM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 2, 2009 10:07 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 2, 2009 9:29 AM:
Stanford Man wrote on Aug 2, 2009 9:25 AM:
Lou wrote on Aug 2, 2009 9:03 AM:
I am sorry if what I said to you sounded like a personal attack or insulting; you are entitled to your opinion and honorable minds can differ.
However, just to clarify my thoughts on some of you notions I'd just say to you:
Teachers do not produce income they produce educated minds. Having an educated citizenry is important. Again, I have something more basic I'd ask you to do pursuant to a more informed perspective on "what teachers really do"....either shadow one all day.
Or, even try and get one on the phone at various times of the day. If you call an average teacher in this District at most times they just are too busy to talk to you, even if it's important. Other times, if you were lucky enough to get through you'd here children in the background as the teacher interupted you to shout out orders, to re-task and redirct these little darlings.
Call an administrator, and if they wish, they can chew the fat with you for an hour, talk about next to nothing or carry on a lengthy conversation about personal matters. "
Lou wrote on Aug 2, 2009 8:52 AM:
Get help! "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 1, 2009 11:58 PM:
I assume your daughter is adopted. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 1, 2009 10:06 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 1, 2009 7:59 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 1, 2009 7:55 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 1, 2009 7:53 PM:
Salary? In a good year with bonuses, $120,000. No job security. Now tell me how tough teachers have it. "
Lou wrote on Aug 1, 2009 3:57 PM:
No, you have a great idea here. There must be a way to reward the good and punish (or ignore) the bad. That's the rub, it's not so much how you do it...the big problem is, how (and who) plays judge.
This District is way too political. It appears that in many ways the bad rise to the top, like scum. Like I said, can you imagine any of the kleptocrats making these decisions. Also like I said, most of these people couldn't pour piss out of a boot if it had directions on the heel. (Old LBJ quote)
I say, recall the board, some are incompetent, some are crooks. Get yourself a new union, if you're a teacher you should know your union stinks. Find new administrators who actually like children, do not have dark hearts, and are honest and worthy of our trust. All these things would be a good start.
Clearly, L.U.S.D.'s Board and super star administrators have failed, are failing and will fail. Anything would be an improvement, yes? "
Lou wrote on Aug 1, 2009 3:44 PM:
Your comments do not merit a serious response however... Who you are, what you think, and how you think, is well documented in your blog's here-and-now. Go back and read my blogs then yours. My ideas, thoughts, therefore my writings are crystal clear even to someone with your modest abilities.
I try to be sensitive to people like you, however, you leave me little choice. Because of my education I am in a position to know (and may have a professional responsibility) to tell you that you need help and you need it now. Take your blogs to your mental health care provider and ask him/her what it means. You call me a "raving lunic" your "counselor" will tell you that's called projection.
I am serious, get some help.
In the assumption that behavior that is rewarded is repeated, and behavior that is ignored is extinguished. I will try and ignore you. Anyone who deals with this women on-line should do the same. You see, arguement for you becomes a reward, it gives you the notion that you are relevant. "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 1, 2009 3:41 PM:
This leads to the problem of teachers "cooking the books," i.e. inflating their test scores. That's why you will need multiple evaluation measures, including classroom observations by more folks than just the site principal.
If this plan were perfect I'd be a gazillionaire by now, living off the grid on my own island. But, it isn't, and it needs tweaking by people smarter than me. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 1, 2009 3:15 PM:
jeff wrote on Aug 1, 2009 3:10 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 1, 2009 2:59 PM:
This is your standard answer to avoid answering questions. Poor Lou. "
Lou wrote on Aug 1, 2009 1:20 PM:
I large part, I agree with you, however, who is going to seperate the 100K people from the one's that get fired? Odie Douglas, Nichol-Washer, the Board or some other six-figure kleptocrat?
This district (therefore most promotion decisions) are based on politics not merit. Allowing these super star administrators at kleptocrat-central seperate the sheep from the goats would be both sad and laughable. These fine folks wouldn't know the difference of high quality teaching or administration even if it would bite their big butts.
These people (nearly all) don't know much of anything and prove it on a daily basis.
I see a concerted effort among these idiots to run-off the very best teachers in favor of the one's willing to brown nose their way to the heights of adequacy and mediocrity.
These things said, your ideas are good a head us in the right direction. The real problem is the Board, I am beginning to think that everything they do is politically motivated and a couple are crooks.
LODIAN: WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE, I CAN EXPLAIN IT TO YOU BUT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT FOR YOU. "
Lou wrote on Aug 1, 2009 1:04 PM:
Is the average you're quoting the mean, median or mode; it makes a difference. The median (average) using your inflated numbers would mean that half of all teachers make less than $60,000, correct? Some as low as 38K...
One out of four teachers, you know the folks who must attend 5-years of college not just 4 think that teaching is so lucrative and easy that they quit in less than 5-years. As I pointed out to you before, most teachers work seven hours per day not counting homework, calls to students homes, correcting papers and filling out useless reports in their copious free time.
All the time these teachers are working at school they are really doing something "all the time" they are responsible for the "lives" of dozens if not hundreds of children each day (every day) and the pressure never stops.
Most plumbers, carpenters, sanitation workers and managers of Jack In The Box make more than 60K a year. I told you, if you think this job is easy shadow one for a day. If anything they're under paid! "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 1, 2009 12:51 PM:
1. You pay the teachers $100,000/year
2. You eliminate CTA. This means all those perks you are unhappy with also go away. You can then also increase the number of days and/or hours.
3. A year-to-year contract means teachers are retained on merit. You can also increase class size to 30-35 kids. There is no evidence class size reduction makes a difference anyway. This allows you to have less teachers, thus covering the $100,000 salary.
Good teachers will be drawn to the attractive salary. Bad teachers are weeded out.
Simple enough dyan? I hope your LUSD education is enough for you to comprehend this. "
dyan wrote on Aug 1, 2009 8:49 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 1, 2009 8:47 AM:
freespeech wrote on Aug 1, 2009 8:39 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 1, 2009 8:35 AM:
oh really? wrote on Aug 1, 2009 8:15 AM:
Very interesting that Atterberry said that of all of the cuts at the high school level, the loss of the department chairs is most distressing. What about the 11 LHS teachers that lost their positions? Interesting perspective. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 1, 2009 1:18 AM:
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 1, 2009 1:18 AM:
Lou wrote on Aug 1, 2009 12:51 AM:
The Board of L.U.S.D. has the power to make itself smaller on its own motion.
Turner School is a good example. They just decided to shut the doors and they did.
All that needs to happen is, we need a new Board ready to start abandoning their schools and having another beneficial corporation (like a Charter school) pick-up the abandon school under the auspices of Prop. 39
I'd say, we should close 5-10 schools a year and give the local community they reside in a chance to run it as a Charter. Do you remember when the District was talking about closing Clements School....I say great. Close em' up as a Lodi Unified School District school and re-open them as Charters the next year.
As L.U.S.D. gets melted down to a manageble size we keep trimming the administrative fat until we are down to our last 10 schools and a superintendent, 10 principles and a few secretaries until L.U.S.D.'s rightful destiny has been fulfilled.
L.U.S.D. has failed, is failing, and will continue to fail. Why not give the brightest and the best a chance to try something different. "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Jul 31, 2009 9:59 PM:
Lou wrote on Jul 31, 2009 9:38 PM:
Make each and every school a charter school, ditch the "front-line administrators" and return control of the schools to the local communities.
We could do a lot better and it's hard to imagine we would do worse. Doesn't not kleptocrat-central appeal to you folks.
Your thoughts? "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Jul 31, 2009 4:16 PM:
Lodian wrote on Jul 31, 2009 3:41 PM:
There are some admins and teachers we thoroughly enjoy seeing to this day and there are some admins and teachers we hope we never EVER see again and think they should have been fired long ago.
With that said I believe the LUSD is completely admin heavy and too much money is dumped down the drain in paying for most of these salaries. I would also like to see a better way of making bad teachers retire or be fired, but that looks like it will never happen either.
Just because one has the title of teacher does not make them worthy of praise and just because one is an admin does not make them evil. There needs to be a better balance in this district. Making sweeping statements about all administrators or all teachers accomplishes nothing. "
Lou wrote on Jul 31, 2009 3:09 PM:
One more thought before I go. How about desolving the "Unified" in Lodi Unified and let the 50 schools compete for teachers and students on each campus and go head-to-head; the weak one's fail the stong one's flourish. We could get rid of the kleptocrats "for good," and we could allow the people who actually have children "in the school" be the Board members. In essence, we would have 50 community schools run by parents, teachers and administrators who care. Why would the administrators care? They would be made to care or they'd be fired.
We need to move education to a customer-centric, service driven enterprise that produces educated children. The problem is right now, we have kleptocrats who of recent date voted to establish Senior Projects, eliminate Science Camp, hire boat loads of consultants who get paid to help teachers get in touch with their inner-bigot. The thing they do best is go to lunch and very few of them live anywhere near Lodi. They don't give a _____ and it shows. "
Lou wrote on Jul 31, 2009 2:51 PM:
You have some good ideas. Pay based on merit is the ideal state of affairs. However, tenure does serve a useful purpose. Without some kind of job guarantees the teachers would be subject to the whims of the Board and their "hand-picked top-line super star" administrators.
Do you really want Odie Douglas to say which teachers should get the 100K and which one's should be fired?
To me, the teachers aren't just part of campus culture, they are the culture. Without the continuity that tenure brings to each school we'd be left with next to nothing.
I am an old man, yet, and still, I can get in my car and drive to one of my alma maters' and visit with some of my old professors. When you go back to school do you try and look up an administrator or a teacher. And, if you said administrator it is because they were "old school good guys" who knew the students' names, smiled a lot and really to cared.
Now, we have a bunch of academic thugs who stay zipped-up in their offices writing worthless e-mails. "
dyan wrote on Jul 31, 2009 1:10 PM:
Bob Loblaw wrote on Jul 31, 2009 11:44 AM:
1. Pay every teacher $100,000 per year
2. Disband CTA
3. Teachers work on a year-to-year contract. The good ones keep earning 100 grand, the bad ones are let go. Done. "
freespeech wrote on Jul 31, 2009 11:37 AM:
I can't believe the union isn't already taking action and I still pay them! And does anybody know why McNair's dept. heads are funded "differently"?? Things like that shouldn't vary from site to site- Anybody else would be OUT OF BUISINESS! "
dyan wrote on Jul 31, 2009 10:42 AM:
Lou wrote on Jul 31, 2009 10:26 AM:
As far as your most recent teacher comment let me just say that was a study n=1 and mean next to nothing.
Yes, certainly, like any profession there are a small cohort of people that shouldn't be teaching. However, on the whole these people work hard.
In fact, they work so hard that I noticed that they are only one of three groups who countdown the days to summer vacation (when they're out). The other two groups are prisoners and soldiers in the Army.
Like I said, go shadow one for a day, I guarantee you that you will find a new level of understanding of the work they do and the stress they are under.
I must confess, notwithstanding my education I could not be a teacher at my age. I wouldn't be able to hack it...how about you? "
dyan wrote on Jul 31, 2009 9:19 AM:
Stanford Man wrote on Jul 31, 2009 9:04 AM:
dyan wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:58 AM:
dyan wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:56 AM:
Lou wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:42 AM:
I suggest that you go to a school (any school in the District)and shadow a teacher all day to see what the do and how they do it. You are going to find that they are continously working on something, they don't have time to chit-chat by the water cooler, take a coffee break, have more than a 15 minutes to slam down their lunch or even go to the bathroom when they want to.
These folks are responsible for the educations AND LIVES of their of our children. If this were not enough, of recent date, the District has hired a group of academic thugs disguised as site administrators who puposely pressure and harrass their teachers to do more with less each year.
On top of all this, most of the teachers I know work in 20-year old portables with very questionable sanitation and safety. In other words, most teachers are forced to work in sick buildings.
Shadow a top administrator and you will see a lot of useless e-mails, worthless meetings and politics. Administrators work in a plush building and usually come late and leave early. "
Lou wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:11 AM:
If you are mad about how much teachers make for what little they do (your opinion) then you will be nearly inconsolable when you find out that the Superintendent (Nicols-Washer) makes $230,000; the Associate Superintendent makes 168,500; the Assistant Superintendent makes over $150,000 (2X). And they do nothing. In fact, they do less than nothing. I truly believe that these people create more liability and general damage than would be created if they didn't exist at all.
Now, keep in mind, I am not counting the indirect costs of defending and paying-off on the more than 40 lawsuits the District has been named in. Let me translate for you: These super star administrators are responsible for the millions of dollars it costs the District pays out every year to indemnify and defend these knuckleheads. They knew about the problem and did nothing...that makes negligence possible.
I won't even mention the idiotic Senior Project nor the Pacific Group that was paid over $300,000 so teachers could get in touch with their inner-bigot.
Who ya' mad at now? "
dyan wrote on Jul 31, 2009 7:43 AM:
Lou wrote on Jul 31, 2009 4:05 AM:
My hopes for the District's integrity are even less ambitious; I hope they didn't commingle and convert Federal Special Education money with general funding.
I have no real proof that they have...mind you, however, they do a lot of stuff that is just plain dumb. They do other stuff that is just plain dishonest. So, who knows.
Stupid, lazy and dishonest are bad combinations. "
Mrs. S. wrote on Jul 30, 2009 7:19 PM:
Anyway, I'll have to see how things go for my own kid in Sp. Ed. I know there are cuts, but where federal education law is concerned, the educrats had better mind their p's and q's. "
Mrs. S. wrote on Jul 30, 2009 7:17 PM:
Very interesting!
I wonder if that decision on the part of the educrats complied with IDEA? Let's hope their not violating federal education law just to make sure their own jobs are safe. "
edumacation wrote on Jul 30, 2009 6:54 PM:
There is a lot of hand wringing about Special Education, but I havce found that from the Administrator or district point of view it is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
I like your comments about the incapable "leaders" at the ESC.
They couldn't get a job folding sheets in a laundry. They are that slow. I think moron is giving them too much credit.
I like the word imbecile. It is much more fitting. They can both tie shoe laces. At least I think they can?
I bet they would need a manual to learn how to do that as well? "
Lou wrote on Jul 30, 2009 6:29 PM:
I agree, parents need to be supportive and helpful. That said, there is plenty of Federal dollars for special needs students if they manage the money correctly.
Many of these students should be pulled from LH classes as they will learn more and better with mainstreamed children. Besides, its the law, a special needs child must be first placed in the "least restrictive environment." Special needs students have a right to be mainstreamed and be with their peers and the so-called normal kids have a right to be in and around kids that may need an accommodation or two.
In some cases, like an LH class a parent who is untrained would be of little value. The District needs to find "highly qualified" special education teachers and aides to provide these children with FAPE.
Needless to say, much of the special education department (no different than the rest of L.U.S.D.) is in dire need of an overhaul. Teachers shouldn't overwhelmed by too much to do and too little to do it with.
Teaching is difficult, teaching difficult children even more so. "
mom of 2 wrote on Jul 30, 2009 6:08 PM:
takealook wrote on Jul 30, 2009 5:07 PM:
Lou wrote on Jul 30, 2009 5:04 PM:
I'm with you, I have been to ESC at 4:00pm (the lights are on but nobody's home). Without the active cooperation of seasoned faculty the "real work" will soon be something close to unmanageable. Many of the administrators work at the extreme edge of basic competence...by the time they've been "there" a few years they actively resist learning anything new or professionally useful. Many of the L.U.S.D.'s "leaders" "couldn't pour piss out of a shoe even if there where instructions on the heal" LBJ said it first.
Tell me something, why hasn't your union filed a seperate action for a temporary injunction. These folks were warned about "breaching" the contracts months ago...someone go find a judge, put an end to this nonsense. The students and the parents are also stakeholders. I say sue the bastards. "
mom of 2 wrote on Jul 30, 2009 4:27 PM:
mom of 2 wrote on Jul 30, 2009 4:21 PM:
edumacation wrote on Jul 30, 2009 4:00 PM:
http://tinyurl.com/p87z2w
I would subsititute the following words in the song ... "When Educrats Really ruled the waves"
"The super,--throughout the year
Did nothing in Particular
and did it very well.
The karaoke version of the song is here:
http://tinyurl.com/m6vjlz "
edumacation wrote on Jul 30, 2009 3:22 PM:
I think they have all fallen into a rabbit hole. None of them are rational. The Hatter and the March Hare drink tea and plan more meetings while they plunder the school district budget.
To them, the budget crisis is THE reason to reward loyal educrats and spend more money. Business as usual. No, this is not a department chair its a lead.... ROFL
Perhaps we should send the Queen of Hearts some white roses? She'll just paint them red anyway. "
Lou wrote on Jul 30, 2009 2:36 PM:
"I did nothng in particular, and I did it very well."
However, much more aggravating than the "top administrators" inability to render any real sevice of any value is their arrogance, dismissive attitudes and imperious manner. When I have the "opportunity" to speak to one of "them" their replies are either high blown edu-speak (usually poorly wrapped in an attitude that is sociopathic, brazen and gleefully confrontational). Or, a load of contrived minutia that also means next to nothing.
And, in all that time you speak to one of these morons you get either a face unclouded by thought. Or, someone who is clearly not listening and waiting for the next moment in the conversation they can blow blue smoke up your skirt. All they are trained to do is spout educational one-liners and information that has the same value as elevator music. In short, the place is an academic gulag of boundless stupidity. As Gertrude Stein once said:
"There is no there, there." "
edumacation wrote on Jul 30, 2009 1:34 PM:
Take a gander at the two clips---simultaneously hilarious and sad. And we get to pay for this party. "
Mrs. S. wrote on Jul 30, 2009 1:29 PM:
I couldn't agree with you more. I don't think I know of a district more bloated at the top than LodiUSD.
Putting the squeeze on teachers and classified employees who provide direct services to kids is insane when there are people who stay in an office on Vine St. all day and only shoot a memo or a phone call once in awhile to people on the front lines.
The office jockies should take leave of their comfy chairs before one more teaching job goes away. "
Lodian wrote on Jul 30, 2009 12:05 PM:
edumacation wrote on Jul 30, 2009 11:54 AM:
One of the insiders at the ESC recorded a public meeting with her cellphone camera. It proves your point about these numbskulls.
http://tinyurl.com/kwulzs
The administrator also recorded a mock lesson plan to promote diversity.
You can find it here. Enjoy!
http://tinyurl.com/5kcnee "
Lou wrote on Jul 30, 2009 11:40 AM:
We must put the money where is counts the most. "Teachers and students" must come first. We need to ditch the Board and each and every so-called "front-line" administrator. I betcha' that you could shoot all these knuckleheads to Mars and nobody would find out for at least two months.
Mark my words, the budget will be slashed again. Let's make sure students and teachers come first, then classified and then the good people that actually have contact with students.
The people with the titles so long they can barely fit on their cards, yet can't tell you what they do...must go.
We can't afford to squander the opportunity to help these kids learn, we can't afford to let these morons fire another 180 teachers. Let's cut the fat at the top...and from what I've seen, there's a lot of fat to cut. "
edumacation wrote on Jul 30, 2009 10:37 AM:
We can have the Assistant to the Assistant lead of Play-doh, instead of all those myriad "superintendent titles. They are redundant.
We can retitle some of the bureuacrats to titles such as " The Duke of Diddling", or the "Duchess of Coffee Breaks". I like "Lead Pencil Sharpener" and the "Grand Poobah of shining shoes and making excuses".
Ah yes and the "Most Worshipful Manager of resetting clocks". "
edumacation wrote on Jul 30, 2009 8:10 AM:
Peter Principle- " In an organization: Every employee tends to rise to his/HER level of incompetence.
This may explain why rampant cronyism doesn't adversely affect the organization? The "favorite friends", the "loyal sycophants", and "promoted family members" also don't know what is going on. So you have dummies mixed with ignorant loyalists and you end up with the mess we have today. Add shovelfuls of hubris and you produce the castle on Vine street.
It's best to keep those Vine street kleptocrats out of the classroom, they will do more harm than good. Ask yourself why they are no longer teachers. Is teaching more important? Or is politicking? Many of them could NEVER teach, thats why they were promoted.
An administrator advised they NEVER wanted to see ESC edumacators in a classroom. They thought it would teach the kids bad habits! "
Lou wrote on Jul 30, 2009 6:21 AM:
Bill Atterberry's quotes:
"There is no way we can serve the role as effectively as teacher leaders"
Of all the cuts at the high school level, the loss of department chairs is the most distressing. "I don't know how I will work without them," he said.
"We still have serious curriculum and instruction work that needs to be done to improve the performance of all students while closing the achievement gap."
More Atterberry, "It will be a challenge to continue that work, but it must and will continue in some form."
Finally Atterberry said, "Programs had to be cut. SO I'M NOT COMPLAINING."
Lastly, Ms. Kenmotsu this isn't a "contract infraction" it's a breach. Go to court get an injunction, today. Who do you really work for? "
freespeech wrote on Jul 30, 2009 6:03 AM:
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