It's All about the Kids!

[macrockett]

www.dailyherald.com/story/print/?id=374979

Students remain our future and our hope
By Kathy Birkett | Indian Prairie Unit District 204 Superintendent
Published: 4/23/2010 12:00 AM

Hardly a day goes by without seeing a story in the newspaper about the education funding crisis. On any given day, there are multiple stories about school districts having to cut budgets.

In my 30 years in education I have never seen anything like our current statewide education funding crisis.

The state is currently behind in its payments to school districts for this year and has announced it will cut $1.3 billion from education funding next year.

To fill its own budget gap of $13 billion, the state is proposing to reduce the funding level to school districts by $450 per student and an additional reduction in categorical funding for programs such as special education. This means Indian Prairie Unit District 204 is projected to receive $18.2 million less in state funds next year.

The challenge we face is each time the state reduces our funding, we need to cut closer to something that will impact a student. We have presented an austerity plan to our board of education that cuts $21 million from our budget next year. With each cut, it becomes more difficult to stay outside of the classroom.

School districts rely on state funding to keep programs running and staff in place. When that funding is in jeopardy, districts must make difficult decisions. Across the state, programs and teachers are being cut.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Illinois Association of School Administrators, 20,000 Illinois teachers will be without jobs due to state funding cutbacks.

www.iasaedu.org/images/stories/news%20release%20survey%20data%203-25-10.pdf

www.iasaedu.org/images/stories/Job%20Losses%20Survey%20Summary%203_25_2010.pdf

Next year we have planned to eliminate 145 teaching positions. With 80 percent of our budget coming from staff, it was necessary. However it was not a decision we made lightly. I have spent many sleepless hours late at night thinking about this decision and the welfare of the staff members who will not return to our classrooms next fall. We greatly value our staff members for the work they do with our students, and if the budget improves, we hope to hire as many back as possible.

The most frustrating part of all of this is that we can't control the state. A group of parents recently took it upon themselves to organize a trip to Springfield to meet with legislators and ask for education funding to be a priority. Their approach was not to advocate for any particular legislation, but rather provide an opportunity to have parents' voices heard with others who share concerns about education funding in Illinois.

I have always said our parents are our partners in education, and this is a great example of how very important they are in advocating for doing what is best for our students.

I also spent time in Springfield last week meeting with legislators. I stressed that we need answers on education funding. We don't know exactly when it will happen, but when the dust settles in Springfield, I know one thing - we will continue to provide the best education possible for our students. They are our future and we owe it to each and every one of them. Hopefully the decision makers in Springfield hear the same message.

[macrockett]

www.dailyherald.com/story/print/?id=375634

Teachers will keep fighting for kids
Published: 4/24/2010 12:01 AM

On April 21, I traveled with many of my colleagues to Springfield. We went in order to put pressure on our politicians to fix school funding. The state government owes Elgin Area School District U46 more than $20 million dollars; furthermore, many of us believe that politicians should consider a new approach toward funding education.

The bottom line of our action was singular - our kids. We did not go to Springfield to get raises. We did not go to Springfield to create a disruption to the school day for personal gain. We went for our kids.

I understand the cynicism from a vocal portion of the public that tends to attack public schools and educators. I cannot touch on the many concerns that are often blogged about or voiced in some other format because I will not do what these voices too often do - oversimplify a very complex issue. I would love to have discussions and forums that weigh the issues and express the varied interests and varied sides of our problems. I think we need to figure out a way to have these conversations, for they would offer opportunities for education and expression.

From my 14 years of service to U46, I know that the vast majority of the public is supportive of education and educators. I thank you all and hope to continue my service to you for many more decades. I wanted the public to understand that we want what is best for our students, and our students are our priority.

We will keep fighting for what we believe in - our kids and our schools.

Gary Lorber

Wheaton

[doctorwho]

Apr 24, 2010 10:08:29 GMT -6 macrockett said:

www.dailyherald.com/story/print/?id=374979

Students remain our future and our hope
By Kathy Birkett | Indian Prairie Unit District 204 Superintendent
Published: 4/23/2010 12:00 AM

Hardly a day goes by without seeing a story in the newspaper about the education funding crisis. On any given day, there are multiple stories about school districts having to cut budgets.

In my 30 years in education I have never seen anything like our current statewide education funding crisis.

The state is currently behind in its payments to school districts for this year and has announced it will cut $1.3 billion from education funding next year.

To fill its own budget gap of $13 billion, the state is proposing to reduce the funding level to school districts by $450 per student and an additional reduction in categorical funding for programs such as special education. This means Indian Prairie Unit District 204 is projected to receive $18.2 million less in state funds next year.

The challenge we face is each time the state reduces our funding, we need to cut closer to something that will impact a student. We have presented an austerity plan to our board of education that cuts $21 million from our budget next year. With each cut, it becomes more difficult to stay outside of the classroom.

School districts rely on state funding to keep programs running and staff in place. When that funding is in jeopardy, districts must make difficult decisions. Across the state, programs and teachers are being cut.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Illinois Association of School Administrators, 20,000 Illinois teachers will be without jobs due to state funding cutbacks.

www.iasaedu.org/images/stories/news%20release%20survey%20data%203-25-10.pdf

www.iasaedu.org/images/stories/Job%20Losses%20Survey%20Summary%203_25_2010.pdf

Next year we have planned to eliminate 145 teaching positions. With 80 percent of our budget coming from staff, it was necessary. However it was not a decision we made lightly. I have spent many sleepless hours late at night thinking about this decision and the welfare of the staff members who will not return to our classrooms next fall. We greatly value our staff members for the work they do with our students, and if the budget improves, we hope to hire as many back as possible.

The most frustrating part of all of this is that we can't control the state. A group of parents recently took it upon themselves to organize a trip to Springfield to meet with legislators and ask for education funding to be a priority. Their approach was not to advocate for any particular legislation, but rather provide an opportunity to have parents' voices heard with others who share concerns about education funding in Illinois.

I have always said our parents are our partners in education, and this is a great example of how very important they are in advocating for doing what is best for our students.

I also spent time in Springfield last week meeting with legislators. I stressed that we need answers on education funding. We don't know exactly when it will happen, but when the dust settles in Springfield, I know one thing - we will continue to provide the best education possible for our students. They are our future and we owe it to each and every one of them. Hopefully the decision makers in Springfield hear the same message.

No you can't control the state but yet we design a budget that relies heavily on state funded programs as 'free money' - i.e. ADK.
-Also we obviously can't control oursleves either- as we HAD to have a 3000 student new HS that will NEVER-EVER come close to being fully utilized and eventually will lead to the lack of need for 3 high schools period. WE HAD to have ti so badly we blew $17M dollars from general funds to secure bonds early enough to cover the additional expense to pay for it.-- the question is WHY ?

No one wants to see cuts to teachers and curriculum, that is bad for everyone in the community - so WHY was the proper scrutiny not done on the 3rd HS issue ? You knew the correct population numbers- you knew the additional $3M in operating expenses a new HS would bring, you knew the additional transportation costs it would bring- yet we plowed ahead, on a far less than perfect piece of property/location ( being kind) to do this ? Did you not think it would make the situation you have today worse ?

[Arch]

Kathy,

You say you lost sleep over cutting staff but how much of your own salary or benefits/pension package did you cut before opting to completely put out of a job other staff members? Did your own personal cuts that hit your wallet even save 1 employee from losing their job?

[brant]

Apr 24, 2010 11:39:43 GMT -6 Arch said:

Kathy,

You say you lost sleep over cutting staff but how much of your own salary or benefits/pension package did you cut before opting to completely put out of a job other staff members? Did your own personal cuts that hit your wallet even save 1 employee from losing their job?

If you asked her that question to her face I wonder how she would react? That Kathy and the rest of the administration are still keeping their wallets well padded is just more proof what is wrong with #204 and why it will continue to go downhill with the current leadership.

[asmodeus]

It's not just the administrators but the teachers themselves. Mr. Lorber states he didn't go to Springfield to get a raise. But he also didn't volunteer to take a pay freeze or cut either, did he?

The kids are NOT first on anyone's agenda, regardless of what any teacher or admin says.

[asmodeus]

The more I think about it, the more I am happy that the state has fallen behind on their payments. This funding shortfall has really raised awareness of the inequity between public union workers vs. the private sector workers who pay their salaries, and if some short-term pain brings about real changes, then it may be for the best.

[macrockett]

Apr 25, 2010 9:53:42 GMT -6 asmodeus said:

The more I think about it, the more I am happy that the state has fallen behind on their payments. This funding shortfall has really raised awareness of the inequity between public union workers vs. the private sector workers who pay their salaries, and if some short-term pain brings about real changes, then it may be for the best.

I agree with you asmodeus. The private sector is certainly rejecting the public sector workers idea that they are immune to the economy and that somehow their wages aren't competitive and therefore they deserve golden retirement benefits. No better example than NJ on that.


NJ (just a small sample in NJ...)------------------------------------------------
www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/nj_police_firefighter_unions_s.html

www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/gov_chris_christies_pension_be.html

www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/nj_voters_reject_school_budget.html

Here is some other stuff this weekend.

IL---
The pension issue: www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-vp-0425voicelettersbriefs-20100425,0,6982667,print.story

LA----------------------------------------

APRIL 24, 2010

Mayor Confronts Former Union Allies

By TAMARA AUDI

LOS ANGELES—Before he became mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa rose to power here as a union leader, organizing lawyers, teachers and secretaries.

But with Los Angeles facing a $485 million budget crisis, Mayor Villaraigosa is pressing for layoffs if union workers don't agree to wage cuts. That has pushed the old labor warrior to the other side of the picket line—and through the looking glass.

View Full Image
LAMAYOR
Associated Press

L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa, center, in March.
LAMAYOR
LAMAYOR

Last week, the city's Librarians' Guild staged a protest of Mr. Villaraigosa's proposed library cuts by reading to children outside his house. A few days ago, union workers drove trash trucks that carried banners reading: "Don't give up on LA, Mr. Mayor."

"Obviously I'm not the most popular guy in town right now," Mr. Villaraigosa said in a recent interview. "I think what I'm asking of people is what I would be advocating if I was a union leader now. Rather than lay off workers and cut services, I'd agree to a pay cut."

The mayor's proposed budget for the next fiscal year, released earlier this week, calls for the elimination of more than 3,500 city jobs, affecting a range of city services including pothole patching, library hours and park programs.

Most of the jobs would be cut through early retirement, attrition and transfers to self-funding city departments. But the proposal includes 750 layoffs in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Some city workers would also be subject to 16 to 26 furlough days. Mr. Villaraigosa said layoffs might be avoided if unions agree to wage and benefit reductions.

The mayor's proposal has raised the ire of the unions, which represent more than 95% of the city's 37,000 workers.

"The fear of many who didn't want [Mr. Villaraigosa] to be elected mayor was that he was going to be too pro-union and in the pocket of big labor," said Jessica Levinson, director of political reform for the nonpartisan Center for Governmental Studies, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit political research group. "Now he's forced into exactly the opposite situation where he's the one proposing these very tough cuts that labor leaders are railing against."

That sets the stage for what could be a protracted battle between the unions, the mayor's office and the City Council. The council, which must approve the city's budget, has been reluctant to order layoffs in the past.

"Those following the city's budget crisis are about to see an elaborate kabuki dance between the mayor and the labor unions that helped him get elected," Ms. Levinson said.

City Council President Eric Garcetti said the city's budget situation is so dire that he believes there could be as many 1,000 layoffs by this fall. But Mr. Garcetti said he is open to other solutions to reduce that number, and has asked the council's chief legislative analyst to examine a counterproposal from the Coalition of Los Angeles City Unions that cuts the budget without layoffs. The coalition says its budget plan would cut the amount the city spends on vendor contracts and seek to boost revenue through increasing city fees like dog licenses.

City workers have already taken a 6% wage reduction this fiscal year through furloughs, said Barbara Maynard, a spokeswoman for the coalition, which represents 22,000 city employees. Under a labor agreement with the coalition, the city cannot order layoffs without triggering a raise of up to nearly 6% for remaining employees. The option was meant to be a "poison pill" to prevent the city from cutting workers, union officials said.

"We were very pleased several years ago when he invited us into mutual gains bargaining [less adversarial negotiations] so we wouldn't have to be having street fights like this," Ms. Maynard said. "It's been very frustrating to see the mayor take a different course and see the mayor break away from this type of collaborative relationship."

It is all a somewhat strange turnabout for Mr. Villaraigosa. The 57-year-old Angeleno has been a union activist since he joined the farm-workers movement at 15 and marched alongside Cesar Chavez. He climbed the ranks of politics in southern California through big labor as an organizer for the Service Employees International Union, United Teachers Los Angeles and the American Federation of Government Employees. By the time he was elected mayor in 2005, Mr. Villaraigosa was seen as a powerful labor ally.

"He symbolized the growing power of unions and that link with unions and Latinos," said Fernando Guerra, a professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University. "He was the symbol of the new L.A.: Latino, union, progressive."

But, Mr. Guerra said, while Mr. Villaraigosa captured the majority of union household votes in the 2005 election, he didn't win the formal endorsements of the city's biggest labor groups, which instead stood by the union-friendly incumbent. That gives the mayor a little more leeway to deal with unions in tough times, Mr. Guerra said.

"I still have a great deal of respect for the mayor," said Bob Schoonover, president of SEIU Local 721. "The mayor's in a tough spot. I just wish he'd be a little more cooperative in letting us help him get out of this spot."

Whether Mr. Villaraigosa can draw on any remaining good will from his union past could make a difference as the city tries to reach a consensus on a budget in the coming weeks.

"So much of this comes down to interpersonal dynamics. People's histories are important when speaking hard truths," said Mr. Garcetti, the City Council president. He said talk of layoffs and wage cuts "reflects a new reality and a real pragmatism. There's nothing progressive about carrying big amounts of debt."

Mr. Villaraigosa said he understands the devastating effect that cutting services can have on families. As a latchkey kid, he said, he often waited at a city library after school for his single mother to finish work.

"I didn't campaign to reduce the size of our work force and cut services to libraries and parks," Mr. Villaraigosa said. "But the business is not working. We can't sustain the size of this work force at these cost levels."

Write to Tamara Audi at [e-mail]