Comments on: Paris School contract talks get off to defiant start

By: Paris School Board member disappointed by teachers union contract proposal | West of the I

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:17:55 +0000

[...] the union exchanged initial proposals Sept. 30. The union is proposing a 3 percent wage increase. The school district is proposing a [...]

By: Northwestern Mike

Northwestern Mike — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:59:41 +0000

I need to make a correction to my last comment. As it is true teachers’ salary and benefits are part of shared-costs and that high shared-costs in the tertiary aid calculation reduces secondary state-aid, Paris school has moved beyond that. Paris school’s property value per member is so high that we are in the penalty stage, where the district only gets 85% of the previous years state-aid along with declining enrollment aid. With less state-aid more of the funding comes from property taxes. I apologize for any confusion.

By: Northwestern Mike

Northwestern Mike — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:07:41 +0000

In Mr. Moore’s attempt to pass the buck for Paris school’s financial problems to declining enrollment and decreasing state-aid, he conveniently leaves out the teachers cost in this calculation. Teachers’ high salary and benefits are 60% of shared-cost used in determining state aid. This high shared-cost is used in the tertiary aid calculation that REMOVES secondary state aid from Paris school. To say teachers’ salary and benefits are not part of Paris school’s financial problems is disingenuous.

By: Northwestern Mike

Northwestern Mike — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:56:26 +0000

I agree, Mark, their proposal was approved before being brought to the public.
I could be a negotiating tactic. The teachers’ contract is high and school board’s is low and they agree somewhere between. That means the school board’s offer should have been much, much lower. Maybe the teachers should think about replacing their representation by this union.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:36:43 +0000

The teachers need to stop hiding behind the union . Their proposal must have been OKed by them before it was brought to the public.

By: 4 paris

4 paris — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:20:54 +0000

We all knew that the Union would pull something like this. We just have to remember that not all the teachers feel the way the union does,but they have to follow the unions guidelines. I am confident that out school board won’t stand for this and negoiate strongly. The union needs to realize that the school funding formula won’t be fixed or changed overnight and we need help now.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:19:57 +0000

The teachers contract proposal is a slap in the face to all residents of Paris school district. The teachers assured us they understood we all must sacrifice to keep our school, but their proposal does nothing to help. The community feels the school board was generious with the offer of a pay freeze. I ask the school board to stick to their proposal and not give in to union which is out of touch with the reality of our district and community!

By: Northwestern Mike

Northwestern Mike — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:42:42 +0000

Be aware, that the residents I talked to after this meeting were very unhappy about Mr. Moore’s position. Residents want concessions from the teachers.
I personally say if the union won’t make concessions, than layoff teachers next year to get the necessary savings.

By: Northwestern Mike

Northwestern Mike — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:32:38 +0000

There was no chance to rebuttal Mr. Moore’s opening statement.
How about the $390,000 Post Employment Benefits that consumes 90% of the $435,000 referendum amount? How about the 5% lane increase in the salary schedule for BA+12 or 21.9%-27.9% increase when a teacher gets a Masters degree? A teacher needs a Masters degree to teach grade school? Give me a break. It’s about jacking up their salaries. How about a teacher that makes over $80,000 with a total compensation package of $125,000? Teachers making concessions is about giving the appearance of understanding residents’ plight and wishes. Mr. Moore is totally out of touch. The board should have opened allowed residents to respond to Mr. Moore’s statement and should have opened the negotiations to residents.