Give them all a taller ladder or a second floor classroom that they can clean themselves!

The answer is simple. Roll back the 7% increase admin got year. And, while you're at it, role back all admins who get paid 6 figures 10%. That's fair. And, that balances the books.

Never let the Commissioners take things away from you. Once you have it, you have it, and keep it. But once you lose it, 99.9% of the time, you will never get it back. Especially now with the way the budget is going.
Also, if the teachers can't get a raise, nobody else should, especially the yahoo for a superintendent that we unfortunately currently have. O ya, the school board is bunch of a winners, too, that definitely don't deserve a penny more. I can't wait until these idiots are out.

If folks like LaBute would quit double dipping it would help the teachers out.....exactly how many administrators are in a drop plan right now Dr. T?

GatorHater07 "Well, yes, actually, you are being unrealistic. You are asking for a larger raise than you got last year, knowing full well that the available School District budget is going to be smaller than it was last year. Please help me understand how asking for a bigger piece of a smaller pie is not being unrealistic."

well let me help you by reminding you that Admin got a 2% + 1% and the rest of CCPS that acually works with the students got only the 1% one time bogus bonus. and i would like to remind any math challenged adults out there (like GatorHater07) that an Admin making over $100,000 gets a much larger "bonus" than a Teacher making $38,000. i would also like to point out that MICHELE LA BUTE said that Admin was under contract (extended two years w/ raise) and could not be reduced by law.

discuss amongst yourselves, i'm getting perplexic!!!

Capt Sam ...good point...but

DROP is a state program, with funds coming from the State of Florida, due to so many people quitting early and not caring to pick up their retirement...transfer it....or take it with them. With the extra funds the DROP was formed. The State of Florida is stuck footing the double-dippers.

However, as a CCPS teacher returns to educate children in the next school year, I think a RAISE IS DUE RIGHT NOW...and the annoying decision of privatizing custodians can wait another twenty years.

With the economy, teachers deserve both the STEP raise, and the general across the board raise....and while we're at it THROW IN A BONUS.

But Thompson would rather purchase bullet proof desks, fully fund the move of out-of-state principals, pay for solar cells on empty property on Marco, hire consultants to think for him.

It is sickening.

With inflation, last year teachers lost money in real dollars. Teachers that received steps got the 2% and eventually the 1% "bonus." Those that did not receive steps got the "bonus." Inflation was running over 3% last year not counting the increase in gas and groceries(and we all know about gas and groceries last year).

This year the union is proposing teachers lose money for a second straight year and the board is saying hold on a minute you are asking for too much. The CCEA is worthless. There is a ballot issue in this election which will allow the board to move money from the kickback side of the ledger to the operations side of the ledger and this could be used to bolster teacher salaries. I doubt it will happen. Even if they get the measure approved they will find some other junk to waste it on.

What the school board fails to realize is that most of their constituency doesn't mind paying taxes for teacher salaries or custodians or safe buildings. What drives tax payers, and teachers, crazy is the amount of money spent on construction, new equipment which is unneeded or never used, "reading coaches", new curriculum with attendant garbage every year, astroturf for football fields and way too much administration.

I am also tired of the way the board and the administration set up teachers to be the bad guys over salaries every year. Thompson could have made a lot of friends last year by repeating this mantra, "I know it sucks, I am sorry we can not do more, we will try to do better next year, but it doesn't look good either. Trust me and when there is an opportunity we will do right by you." Most teachers would have been frustrated with that answer to their demands, but it would have been better than the approach which was used.

I also heard a rumor about school board members abusing their gas cards. Anyone else hear anything?

City of Naples is eliminating 21 positions next year. CCPS should consider doing the same on a larger scale, espcecially with faculty.

Give remaining teachers the raise they are demanding from the savings.

Beetlejuice, that would qualify except her drop plan paycheck comes from CCPS, her retirement comes from the State, which is courtesy of......CCPS. There are several other in Admin in the same boat, DROP plans stifle upward mobility and cost more since the employee is paid at a higher rate.....send them packing.

For the past 6 years the student enrollment in the school district has DECREASED!

How come the budget keeps going up so astronomically?

Isn't it time for the school district to CUT their budget in light of the economic times we're in & decreasing enrollment?

Many people in this county are w/out jobs, let alone any raises.

The teachers need to get real and learn to accept less, just like everyone else in the community who works in the "real" world, and pays property taxes to pay teacher's salaries!

Some of you people have no clue how bad the teachers have it, between the Admin and their own union leadership......give them a break....and a raise.

The "real" world......that's so funny.

I think its sad when we use the Custodians as expendable items.....if the custodians go you'll get a raise. Change the insurance plan and save everyone. Why do I keep feeling that privatization is coming at everyone....

I believe the teachers deserve a raise....inflation stats indicate it. I would remind everyone that teachers need not worry about being privatized. To favor a raise based on the termination of 250 custodians is heartless. The nonsense floated about the custodians will at least get jobs with GCA is not the issue. The insurance offered by GCA is feeble and way beyond the finanical ability to obtain. There is no pension plan and those with less than 6 years lose out with FRS. Its a terrible offer and I hope the teachers do not support it.

Those poor teachers.

They do no marketing, no hiring or firing, don't worry about facilities maintenance, budgets, security, no accounting or collections, don't have to worry about malpractice insurance, get lots of holidays and summers off, gety paid to attend seances and workshops in Las Vegas or Orlando every year, get a big lump cash payout at retirement of unused sick days and vacation time in addition to their fully funded retirement plan, guaranteed employment and so much more.

Yes, it must be tough each year to waltz into a classroom of chidren in a controlled environment, and yes, it doesn't pay all that much (but it does pay well). But really, is the position that demanding or risk-filled for teachers?

No, it isn't.

Gator - I happen to think that the union knows full well it isn't going to get what it is asking for. However, when you negotiate - you don't start with what you expect, you go higher. Then you hope to get close to what you expect. I merely see this as a tactic to hopefully keep the district from going with less than they "budgeted", a term I use loosely with that group.

And you are right, everyone needs to vote "yes" on the Nov. ballot - it will help the bottom line (students and teachers) though probably not in the form of a raise.

The teachers are the essential element in a school system. Money to the teachers first, all others if there's any left.

Hello......as a teacher, I didn't get a 1% raise last year. Did anyone else? I got a "bonus" which only amounted to 50% of what it should have been because it was taxed at a higher rate than a "raise" would have been. My "bonus" paid for 2 months worth of gas for my car! What 1% raise is Boggess talking about? If I was supposed to get one, I would like to know where it is!

oldcop.....layoff 250 custodians to give the teachers a raise....that doesn't sound like justice

Sounds like Bramble should become a teacher, since he's obviously got it so bad!

By the way, Bramble, we don't get paid to attend workshops ANYWHERE! Maybe back in YOUR day...

Any teachers? Are teachers willing to standby and watch the termination of 250 employees so they can get a step raise? I would like to know. Iam behind the teachers all the way unless they throw the custodians in to get it......what say you!

Bagpipe--Their plan is to "compromise" and then BLAME the teachers for the lack of funds for janitors. It's the whole "divide and conquer" approach.

As of July 1, all administrators received a 2% step. The superintendent and Board make sure there is money for salary increases in the administrative paychecks but not for the rest of the employees. It is this type of decision that creates a lack of trust. Dr. Thompson is well versed in paybacks and divide and conquer methods. Community wanted the block and he was not happy so change the format of the block. Teachers would have had a raise if the block schedule had gone away. If teachers want a raise this year, then outsource the custodial services. If the teachers do not get the referendum passed in November, there will be no raises the following year. And the list goes on.

In the past, the superintendents have had set goals to work on. Where are the goals for the current superintendent? Student enrollment is not growing at such an exponential rate so why is the millage rate for capital not decreasing anyway? When SACS is telling the community there are problems with the operation of the Board, the community needs to step up and get involved in the August voting process.

BRAMBLE- You had to make those insane comments to really pi-- people off.
No marketing ? Teachers market their skills daily and constantly are looking for more $ for the classroom thru grants,etc.
Facilities maintenance? Teachers constantly repair, maintain,clean their rooms for their own well being as well as the students.
Many teachers have a budget to manage, account for,clubs,sports,book inventory,etc.
Malpractice insurance ? No but teachers worry that one of the precious ones will claim they were touched or were spoken to rudely or you name it....Once an accusation is made and made public you are guilty no matter what...
WORKSHOPS are not paid for,classes during the summer not paid for nor do teachers get paid for their time to take class. Who's gonna pay for the babysitter ? Don't corporations pay for the workshop and pay their employees for their time ?.
Vacation days are our days given to us by our employer.Reinbursed for vacation days not taken ? What ? How about being paid for working on vacation days ?
You a mom ? Stay at home w/ your kids when they are sick ? Ever suffer an illness requiring hospitalization ? There go the sick days.
I personally know 3 teachers that were fired.It takes 4 years to be tenured.I know others that were given bad evaluations after many years of good ones to get rid of them last year. Also know teachers that had an Administrator in their room every day evaluating every move, every sentence in order to intimidate and fact find to get rid of them for budget purposes. Principals told certain number of teachers had to go.
Fully funded retirement ? At 1/2 the salary.Oh I guess teaching professionals w/ a degree don't deserve retirement packages ?
Waltz into a controlled environment ? HAHAHAHAHA
I know teachers that had chairs thrown at them, been threatened by parents and kids, have physically been intimidated by students, been cussed out and screamed names that would make a Marine blush.
Bramble have you ever set foot in a classroom ?

Not complaining about being poor.
JUST THE FACTS.
I DESERVE A DECENT SALARY + BENEFITS.

It must be fun (or at least mildly amusing, since I cannot picture him actually having fun) for Dr. T to watch the reactions when he feeds his little "announcements" to the public.

Anybody check his background as an instructor at West Point? I think you will see his "Psychology of Battle" courses have prepared him well for the task at hand. He is pulling just the strings he chooses and watching the players all dance the dance.

Those who want to combat this superintendent had better brush up on their "psych ops" manual, noting especially the sections on "divide and conquer" and "back victims into lose-lose choice options."

As for Madame LaBute... how does she sleep at night? She really was a teacher herself way back when!

Anyone who is not ready to vote Mrs. Abbott off the board needs to pull the video of any board meeting in the past year and watch her performance. She might have been effective at one time, but she has lost it. She has to go.

I would ask the Teachers to contact their Union and inform them that they are not willing to accept a step raise or bonus etc. if it means laying off 250 custodians. It may mean more belt tightening but put yourself in the custodians place.

Thing is, this year is going to be a cake walk compared to next. The only thing even open to negotiation this year is salary (as it is each year). The entire collective barganing agreement is up as of June 30, 2009. As tough as things are for everyone right now, this year may be the battle that we need to accept losing. I feel an all out war coming and we don't want to lose that.

I saw the new batman movie yesterday - Dark Knight. I think they could have put teachers in one boat, and custodians in the other to see who would blow the other up first. So, is Thompson the Joker in disguise?? There is a similarity.

About the fairness of teacher salaries and the collective bargaining agreement: There is no respect for Unions in the admin halls. There is no collective bargaining by the admin. And, I know, and we all know, that the admin feather their own beds so much more then the beds of teachers get feathered. Our admin bureaucrats in Collier County are way out of hand and need to be set down. Role back admin salaries to 2004 levels. The school board can do that with a voice vote.

Those of you who feel that teachers are illogical in their desire to have more money need to stop and think for a minute. Over the past 4 years they have seen maybe a 1% increase. (Pretend bonus here or there. That 1% bonus last year equaled about $200) How many people recieve raises from their employers equaling more than 1% in 4 years?
Another thing to consider, teachers are spending about $1000 out of their own pockets each year for classroom supplies. We are not talking fancy stuff...pencils, paper, pencil sharpener, erasers. How many people outside of education get paid to do a job that they have to pay to do? The attitude seen in some of these threds is for the teachers who do not like making $38,000/yr to just leave and find something else. OK that would be the majority of the teachers; and who will be left to teach your children? Schools with no teachers… Interesting! Let me know how that works for you.
After all, the superintendent did give himself a raise along with his administrators. Life must be tough when you make over $240,000 a year. The teachers are upset about the unfairness of how the money is being utilized. My school has just over 500 students. The school budget is approximately $36,000. This money pays for curriculum materials, custodial supplies, copy machine ink, along with a few other opperational things. If you do the math it is about $70 per student for the year. How can you tell the teachers to stop complaining when they are being asked to pay for toilet paper and paper towels for their students? That is how grim thing are in the classroom. It is unfair for teachers to want 3% total...this wouldn't cover the toilet paper expense. Do you pay for your own toilet paper at work?

It is interesting to note that Mrs. LaBute is still employed ( at a hefty salary) AND is in the DROP program collecting her pension as well. ALL of the teachers who were in the DROP were let go this past spring. Mrs. LaBute should have gone also! Oh gee, I forgot, different rules for the administrators than the lowly teachers!!!

I am a teacher and I do not feel this is the best time to talk about a raise when many in the community have lost jobs. I am just happy to be employed and will ride this bad spell out as best I can.

This article contains outright lies: "Last year, the district offered teachers and other contract employees an additional 1 percent on top of the 2 percent step increase. The School Board approved the raise to teachers in September." The insinuation of a 3% raise is an utter, outright, vicious lie--by NDN as well as by CCPS administrators.

Other misconceptions in the Comments by Gatorhator, who probably knows the answers to her questions before she asks them, are, "How many paid holidays do you get during your nine-month 'work year'? Paid sick leave? Paid vacation days?" No teacher receives more than six paid holidays per year (subject to hurricane retractions). The school district authorizes which days are designated "holidays" and no teacher is able to take any other day as a holiday. For example, of the two-week Christmas break, only Christmas Day is a paid holiday. No teacher receives paid vacation days other than these six days [the rest of the "time off" everyone seems so jealous of is unpaid forced layoff time. Teachers must personally save enough pay to last them through the no-pay forced lay-offs of June, July, and August. The pay for Christmas and Easter is saved for check-issuing by the school district shorting teachers' pay during regular weeks.

Paid sick leave is 10 days per year but hidden is the caveat that every day taken reduces the teacher's severance pay by a full day's pay at the rate of daily pay at retirement. In other words, if I take a sick day (or personal leave day), it costs me more than the regular pay for a day when I retire.

Medical, eye-care, and dental: ask any teacher or their family members. The multiple co-pays, multiple deductibles and coverage limits make a mockery of employer-financed health care. It's currently the worst plan in Naples (other than having no plan at all). My glasses this summer cost me nearly $500--just for lens-replacement. My physicians' bills considerably exceed the "allowable amount" by hundreds of dollars--even after I've satisfied the $350 out-of-pocket deductible. The rest of my family each has his/ her own deductible, co-pay, and allowable amounts.

McDonald's has better benefits. And you don't even have to attend Hamburger College to get them.

Gatorhater ought to go back to her homeland where the Bluetick Coonhound mascot is not held in such low esteem. After Governor Chiles, we in Florida know all about hounds. Chiles responded to an inquiry about his campaign with a line about "the old he-coon walks just before the light of day," an old Southern reference to the oldest and wisest raccoon in a pack. And sleeping coon dogs have a tough time treeing one.

Raccoons don't hate alligators. Nor do coon dogs. Dogs and coons give alligators the wide berth they deserve.

Florida taxpayers get way more than their money's worth from public school teachers. We live in the Everglades. And many of us are Gators. None of us tolerate liars.

Deja vu?

The Party Is Over Naples!

Wow! My mother taught school many years ago and loved it because that is what she wanted to do. She didn't make much money and she knew that before she got into it. From what I have learned from some of the teachers that blog on here, I would not want you teaching my children. Too much controversy!

Everyone is taking a hit on the economy. No one is getting good raises, if any. The cost of living has increased above everyones raise, which has been nothing new.

Be thankful you have a job. If you don't enjoy doing what your doing, making a difference in a child's life, go somewhere else. The custodians could lose their job and bus drivers are being laid off. You could be next, especially if you keep demanding.

BTW, I know you can take your salary over 9 months or 12 months. You get 3 months off, whether it is paid or not. You can also get part-time jobs, like so many other people do, if you can't live on your salary.

People writing in on the blog are missing a huge point. As of July 1, 2008, all administrators in the district received a 2% increase in their salary. If we expect teachers to tighten their belts, why are administrators receiving salary increases? Why did the Board approve the administrative pay increase at their June meeting if money is so tight?

I hope not from the mouths of the custodian families

See the latest blogs on the 45 layoffs at Transportation............

Re: Post #47

I am not sure where you came up with a figure of 1.3 million for administrative salaries. The staff who received the increase include all building level administrators, technology staff, district administrators - anyone not covered under the instructional contract, secretarial, custodian, cafeteria, bus drivers. It is not a question of justifying which is easier to find. If we are to tighten belts, then everyone needs to tighten up. Sure easy to say there is no money left in the budget when raises are awarded for only certain classifications of staff.

Post #43 - "BTW, I know you can take your salary over 9 months or 12 months."

Not exactly true - the option is 22 or 26 paychecks, either way - you only get paid 22 (one check is the "big one" which gets taxed at a higher rate). No teachers are getting a check in the summer past mid June, we learn to budget what we are paid through the year to account for the down time.

And Post #49 - that is precisely the point - the "tighten the belt" philosophy only applies to certain groups.

teachurkids.....26 paychecks means you get paid every two weeks? A lot of employees get paid every 2 weeks or 26 paychecks per year. 22 paychecks mean they only go without a paycheck for about 8 weeks. This also means that their salary is the same, whether it is divided by 22 weeks or 26 weeks. Nice try.

The answer does not lie in giving back income or finger pointing at the administration or the teachers etc. This budget crisis hit fast and hard, it caught most of us off guard. Now its time to find ways to be more efficient, at work, and at home. In order to attempt to save jobs, things must get more efficient. Some jobs maybe lost, however the majority can be saved. Privatizing "is" losing jobs. Instead of attacking and finger pointing about "Drop" and salary level, be part of the solution, look for ways to save.

CaptSam valid point...but I don't get it.

Do you want some experienced teachers in schools?

Would you want the new-kid on the block, fresh outta college, first-year teacher, educating your children? Although many teacher newbies are AWESOME here in CCPS...don't get me wrong.

Or would you want the seasoned veteran teacher, with years of experience, trial and error in the classroom, 20 years of understanding, patience, dedication, EVERYTHING wrapped into one.

No way, would I send them packing, as they are leading the younger teachers to greatness, as well as educating CCPS students. They are pillars in education and they deserve the chance to participate in DROP....it is an OPTION, too.

The state-funded DROP program keeps experienced employees in public entities to ultimately serve the public in a more efficient manner.

Would you want the seasoned 20 year police officer responding to your call for help, or a rookie cop who is learning the roads here?

You're call.

DROP is not bad at all.

It is a win-win for taxpayers, and the state funds the plan.

Keep experience in the schools here, and stop wasting money on bullet proof desks, flashy equipment, entire wings of brand new schools that just opened, as enrollment is decreasing overall.

Bagpiper, jobs should not be referenced as lost...these were PEOPLE who were struck hard by being fired.

Here's my solution....

I'll pretend I'm Mr. Trump and put on the cool tie he wears.....wait a minute as I mousse my hair and swoop it over to the right, or was it the left.....

Here it goes....

Mr. Thompson...Ph.D. wannabe

"You're fired."

That felt so good.

Now, if I could only loosen this tie up a bit.

Ok, let me try this again - Ladybug:

Teachers get paid 22 checks in their contract year. Period.

They can opt to have their yearly salary divided by 22 or by 26. If they choose to have it divided by 22, then they get more in each of those checks and have to set some aside for the summer - when they don't get checks.

If they have it divided by 26, then they get less each week because the district sets the extra 4 pays aside until the end of the school year. Usually it is paycheck #20 that is the "big one" when you get the extra money all at once. But even with this option, you don't get more than 22 actual checks.

teachurkids...I understand but your pay is still based upon a year, just like everyone else. You get more per pay so you can set it aside or put it into savings and earn interest. The fact is, you are paid by the year, whether it is divided by 22, 24, 26, etc. for 9 months of work. Not bad at all.

I'm not complaining, just trying to clear up a misconception that many people have about teachers getting paid in the summer.

I chose my job for all the reasons you mentioned before and I don't expect to get rich doing it. Problem is that we are in a Catch-22 situation. Continue to accept low pay and society doesn't consider what you do professional (especially a culture that deifies the rich). Demand more and get called greedy.

Good luck, teachers. Unfortunately, you're going to need it.

Time are hard, but the rich feel nothing. It's the regular people that suffer. I would call us "middle class" but I don't think we exist anymore.

I wish I was able to still work and make the lousy salary I had. At least I had money back in the day.

How many people out there have an automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) build into their contracts? I know the school administrators do. Plus they will probably receive thier annual step increase and a bonus. If they work at a an A-plus school they will probably get a bonus for that too. But you will never hear the administrators say how broke the district is while depositing thier fat checks. The district is only broke when the unions are trying to get a raise. When the times were great...no money. When the times are bad...no money. Same broken record coming from the same old people. So just remember, while La Bute is telling everyone there is no money, she has all ready received her COLA raise currently around 5%.

http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/In...

beetlejuice, lost your job or were fired, same thing. It sucks and I know many of them. The union wrote a clause that states the district"must" rehire the lost,fired.layed off, rif"d employees back in order before subs can be used and to be rehired should there be replacements needed for 1 year. You have a problem with me stating they were lost jobs, I have been at every demonstration to keep the custodians from being "lost" and will continue, how about you?

GatorHater07:

More @#%! coming from you is not surprising. One has to wade through tons of it to search for any sign of understanding. In your world the administration is all good and the teachers are all bad. How simple you are! What is it that you have against teachers? They are the only ones that actually carry out the stated mission of the board, which is educating our kids. Since they are the ones who do the real work, they should receive first consideration and be respected and compensated fairly. So it's okay in your twisted thinking to pay the superintendent, who has NO public school teaching experience, over $300,000 a year (when you average in his "base" salary and benefits)when a teacher with similar qualifications and thirty years experience in a real classroom makes around sixty? I swear you are paid by the administration to spread its propaganda because with you there's only one side to the story.

"They do no marketing," no, we write syllabi, curriculum, grade papers, and we "market" our schools through parent contacts and school functions.
"no hiring or firing," ok, you got me there, but last I checked, only a small fraction of corporate America works in HR.
"don't worry about facilities maintenance," We are responsible for maintaining a safe environment for hundreds of students. Do I walk around with a drill and a hammer? No, but like I said, last I checked, most companies require only skilled employees to hammer nails.
"budgets," Wrong again! All teachers are responsible for their own classroom budget, and it always comes down to supplying 100s of kids with paper, pencils, and other necessities with $75 a year.
"security," Security is 100% of our jobs. Every day, we have to keep our eye on all people in the room and read their emotions in order to anticipate "events." We have to be the eyes and ears of the school, looking for issues that may arise within the building as well as outside the building. We don't have security guards, we ARE the security guards.
"no accounting or collections," Who do you think distributes and collects textbooks and fees? Teachers do.
"don't have to worry about malpractice insurance," no, I get to worry about a kid who gets their panties in a wad because THEY failed a test or a project because THEY didn't do assignments, study, pay attention in class, and their parents who want to get me fired and get my license revoked as a result of THEIR CHILD not doing THEIR JOB as a student.
"get lots of holidays and summers off," I get 2-3 weeks off during the school year which are paid "vacation" but the reality is that you do too, you just get the option of not taking vacation and banking it for when you leave your job or get fired. I am also at the tail end of what they call forced unemployment- that means, I get to take 8 weeks off for the summer and NOT GET PAID.
"get paid to attend workshops in Las Vegas or Orlando every year," Yes, I get to have someone tell me to attend a conference, take time out of my days, and try to eat 3 decent meals on $12 a day. I also get to learn and develop my skills as a teacher, and then spend even more time once I return processing and using the information, sharing it with those who couldn't attend, and writing an essay to prove that I attended because as a professional with graduate degreeS, I can't be trusted otherwise. Hmmm.. that almost sounds like the conferences that are set up for just about every other industry in the US, we just don't get an Amex gold card to cover our expenses.
(continued)

"get a big lump cash payout at retirement of unused sick days and vacation time in addition to their fully funded retirement plan, guaranteed employment and so much more." Don't know about guaranteed employment, if you follow any of the news in CCPS, no one here is guaranteed employment, or a raise. As for the retirement, yes, I get a state funded retirement package that will guarantee me a rusted out trailer somewhere behind an abandoned barn when I retire. You get a 401K, Christmas bonuses, and if you're lucky, the chance to buy stock in your company. Six in one, half dozen in the other, wouldn't you say?
On top of all the other hats I get to wear in a day, I also get to hold my urine for hours on end, be exposed to viruses left and right, work an 8 hour day and then come home and work 4 more, and have a superintendent and a school board who constantly degrade me with their remarks and archaic, good ole boy employment tactics. I get to deal with hormonal teenage drama 150 times every single day and spend hundreds of dollars from my own personal funds on things like paper and basic necessities. Don't tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about because I worked for 14 years in "corporate America" before becoming a teacher. I love my job, and I wouldn't have it any other way. My point is, my job has its benefits, and it has its hazards, just like yours. We are not that different, but the constant cyclical comparison is getting old.

Gator , you need an education.Take in consideration the ratio of teachers to admins,and there average salries,that will give you a true realization of comparisons. Then divide by hours worked per week,per teacher,and admin. you will find out that teachers make aprox. half of what admins. make. This based on a forty hour week for admins., and a fifty hour week for teachers.Yes even though you think they only work contracted hours of 35,they work in excess of fifty.Please educate yourself on these issues. If you are going to quote info,make it correct and based on facts ,not assumptions. How you have a job in the construction industry is amazing to me,I think you are lying,I know who you are!!!! You need to familiarize yourself with fair labor standards.

Gator, As far as teachers paying for items, they buy these items to help teach their students,between budgets not being there, and some kids not being able to afford things, teachers give quite a bit to the classroom. As far as a tax write off,do the math,I would much rather my wife not spend the actual cash.Educate yourself! And when you do, thank a teacher!!!

educate yourself and then thank a teacher? That makes no sense

Gator -umleed-mt348 you are all CLUELESS.
Gator I could try to refute you point by point but it would be like banging my head against the wall...
Umleed- 20 yrs. vs. 50 years ? The same ? Should be paid the same ? OK...you are scheduled for brain surgery....you get the intern.
mt348- no stress ? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You obviously have never set foot in a classroom and suggesting that teachers are money hungry ? Not having a cost of living increase for 3 years now I'm losing $$$ every year.
Not pay for supplies,etc. for my classroom ? So YOUR kids won't have the necessities they need. That OK w/you ? Little Johnny won't eat lunch for the 3rd day in a row and Sally will just have to sit in her pee pants the rest of the day.
Do you actually think before you spew ?
Do I sound angry ? YES !!! Are teachers allowed to express their opinions w/o being called selfish,whiny,moneygrubbing ? Can a teacher have freedom of speech in a public forum ?

I am always amazed at the people who are jealous of my summers of unemployment, my hard won union benefits and my easy job of handling 200+ kids a day! Not only this I am to do it like a good little Donna Reed. PIGS one and all!

teachindasun: Great posts!

Gater - you are a hateful person - "Learn to live within your means" - who are you to even make such an inanane comment - ask my children what luxuries we might enjoy:

Would you consider going "out to eat" at McDonalds a luxury? and having to order off the Dollar-Menu ONLY, no soda = My kids do.

Would you consider having a haircut only three times a year a luxury? My kids do.

Would you consider the fact that I work for this District and I qualify for reduced lunches for my children a luxury? We do.

If there was a second job out there to be had AND I could afford childcare so I could go to my second $8/hour second job - I would gladly do it - and then listen to you criticize how parents aren't available to their children.

I could go on and on - GatorHator - hush up - you have upset me off for the first and last time today.

and don't tell me to move away - that too is unrealistic - I shouldn't HAVE to move away.

But I forgot - I have a job today - and don't think that I am not cognizant that today could be my last - which would par for the course - only I live below paycheck to paycheck now - so you see, as long as I can manage to pay the mortgage and insurance, I get to keep the house, the government will take care of the rest if I get laid off -lets see - free healthcare for me and the kids, food stamps, food banks, free breakfast and lunches for Johnny and Julie, reduced/free childcare so I can enjoy my time during the day, an unemployment check not much less than I bring home now - and no stress! I can still go out and work at that $8/hour part-job that I can't find and still qualify for all of those benefits....

So, you see, Gator, I am very grateful for my job.... as long as I have it...thanks for making me look at the brightside of working for the District.

Where I work we had to reduce our workstaff from 23 people to 10. That means that 13 people were fired or laid off. I gratefully still have a job, but I am now doing the work of 3 people for the same salary I was making when there were 23 people!
Should I call the press? Should I whine to the NDN? I am grateful that I was not one of the people who was let go, all because I am a team player.
I think the teachers really need to look at the big picture. Everyone is hurting. Be grateful that it was not you that was fired. You have far more benefits than I do in my secretarial job - I have to pay for my own insurance and I only get 10 days a year to use whether I am sick or vacation. Please realize that you are much better off than most people and stop this ridiculous bantering. It is useless. Go do somethng more constructive with your time!

Gatorhater07 why can't you just admit that teachers should receive a raise ?
I'd love to break down my finances for you and tell you why I still can't make it... but I'm uncomfortable doing that in a public forum. I will say my house is paid off and I have no credit card debt.
Making 50,000 a yr. and paying on a 4000,000 is STUPID. People should never put themselves in that kind of stress.
Having close relatives as teachers can give you SOME insight but no way do you understand what is going on day in and out.Why don't you volunteer for a week in a classroom...all day.Or better yet sub a couple times...that oughta give you real experience.
So I should move away from all my friends and elderly parents and inlaws ? That's stretching it just a bit don't you think ? Besides I'd take a pay cut cause when you switch teaching jobs you never get the same years (scale)as you already put in.
Yes I'm happy I still have a job.I feel for the busdrivers,attendants (this will make it harder on special needs kids and unruly buses endangering students),teachers who were cut,the custodian with the fight to come.Can you imagine your little kindergartener on a bus full of crazy adolescents w/no attendant ? Or the special needs student who needs help enroute but no one can help them cause the busdriver has to actually drive the bus ?
ALL OF OUR CHILDREN are our most valuable resources and I'm starting to feel like no one gives a da--.

23 years Do I love the children...you bet. Do they love me...you bet! Is that a criteria for a good teacher? Powerpoint, excell, word, web research, cad drawing! Bake cookie, draw, run around the athletic field!!!! our school cut audio visual and technology
But then again....how often do we use a computer?

Our administration feels that a class should be fun! Yeah FUN! We cancelled the computer programs in the elementary schools too, to costly..I went to school not knowing the child setting next to me was not as smart as me....because I was raised to appreciate the worth of each individual. AS my drop principal returned on his 3rd year.."it is a job!" I can educate as an English teacher, take a test and teach your child math! How good is that? Also are you aware you can study and get a bachelor's degree in basket weaving and then take four classes...pass a couple tests from the state and teach? NOt only are the truths covered up from you...you are lied to, as we are...do you like that...well we don't either...and if you question...they get to pass judgement (evaluate)on you...oh well we get to pass judgement on your child (evaluate)
Well I no longer choose too spend my money...the child who cannot afford the food in my room will now go hungry because the school has not given me a dime in 5 years for them.
Do a fund raiser...I did not choose to fund raise... when field trips are planned we actually have a statement in the contract which reads: Any teacher sponsored field trips will not receive comp time...well what teacher in their right mind would take kids on a field trip... Let alone the liability. Oh and don't critisize my spelling and grammar...I am certified by the state to teach English...ha ha...Oh I forgot to mention...in our county... one individual had an affair with a student (age 17) and they promoted him/her from teacher to assistant principal...and the other one...had an affair with his/her principal (in school) and they were promoted to assistant....yes sworm statements waiting to be revealed....notorized too! And an attorney waiting in the wings! Teaching today is not about the kids...I can teach them anyday of the week...it is about our treatment to each other...and that is lacking...if a teacher is not worth it..whom you determine my worth? Fire your teachers keep the custodian to teach and save money for the new sup! There will soon be one! Or better yet letter a teacher be a sup!

Be thankful you have a job. There are many out there who don't have one.

The teachers have better benefits than I do and you don't hear me complaining!

gator, for the record ,the comensation package is not a freebie, the health is contracted, not a very good plan with the decductibles,but yet a plan,the vision and dental are paid out of pocket,there is no paid vacation,when you are off for the summer so is your check,yeah ,yeah, they can spread the checks out,then it would average out to less money per week through the year,average salary is 45k per year,job security? basically seniority rules,tenure means nothing in Florida,guaranteed raises? depends on the contract,negotiations usually a year behind,lets turn to the cops and firemen,anyone ever been inside one of these firemens retreats they call firehouses? They make more than teachers and sit around all day waiting for something to do. Why should they get paid for doing nothing? They also get reimbursed for schooling,so they can get more raises,ever see how many have high rank on our dollar.

let's leave all the children stupid and running around in the streets attacking gatorhater...since we're not "critical" enough for him.

What an IDIOT.

you ARE a hater. You have no respect for teachers what-so-ever. That is why I will never read your posts again. That last post proves you have a negative bias towards teachers. I apologize none of them helped you time manage or write properly, but we can't save them all that's for sure. Even at midnight, while we're sitting around grading papers or worrying about one of our students, we are on call. Just remember that!

Gatohater07 thanks for responding in a civilized way...even though we don't agree.
As far as step increases go 40 % of teachers are in the no step zone. No automatic anything.
I pay 14,000.00 in health insurance for family coverage w/350.00 deduc.for each person.This is sucking up alot of my paycheck.
You are right we have been tightening our belts.
It just amazes me that the administration has their raise yet there is no $ for teachers , aides, etc.I do have a choice on whether or not to spend $ on the students and choose to do it everytime but perhaps that will have to be another notch I tighten on my belt.
It's disgusting to see advertisements asking for donations so kids will have bookbags, supplies. The districts should be funding this. Every year schools put out lists of what the kids need for school. Where are the budgets for school supplies ?

dumbleed: My school teacher friend just came back from Greece. He LOVED IT!! He thanks you for the tax dollars to fund the trip.

Gator: You bleed hatred towards teachers. I, for one, don't think teaching is for everyone. There are many I wish would change fields, but alas they stay and teach children and whine about it. I never felt I worked. I woke up and did something I LOVED.

bye for now :)

FreshFace and Bagpiper-
Both of you made comments like this-
"And, I know WHY the teachers pay for things out of their own pockets, that's fairly obvious. My point is that no one is FORCING them to - no one is holding a gun to their heads or threatening them with being fired if they don't do it - it's not a condition of their employment that they do so. They CHOOSE to do so, and then come whining back about how much money they are losing at their job. But, they can also choose NOT to do so, and keep that money in their pockets."

I just have one question for you. What should I do when one of my 6 yr old students needs to poop and there is no toilet paper? Wipe their bottoms with their hand? Oh wait...we can't afford soap either.

How do you teach a child to write with no pencils?

How can I meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Law with no teaching supplies?

Who will be fired if the students don't meet federal testing requirments because they didn't have the resources to implement the district required curriculum?

Hummm...do I really have a choice? Or am I just being humane by providing the bare necessities that this superintendent doesn't budget for?

Post # 44 - Check your figures! With the top three ad center people earning $580,000 in salary (not including travel allowance and benefits), how can 1,789,000 possibly be correct? I personally am aquainted with at least 15 other administrators, including supervisors and program directors that work at the ad center, as well as techies, and TSA's. And this doesn't even include the non-admin staff there! Please visit the ad center any time during the week and see for yourself the copious amounts of people sitting around chatting, having coffee, etc.

Post # 59: Your theory holds true in EVERY field. Bad doctors kill people with their mistakes, bad actors tick us off that we spent $$ on that movie ticket, and so on... However, in general, experience is valuable and desirable. I know that my first class (I was 23 teaching 18 yr. olds) did not learn nearly as much as my class last year (my 28th), where all of my reading students posted a gain on the reading FCAT, many of them achieving a two level gain.

It's pretty obvious that those who post here have picked "sides" on this. There is so much being thrown both ways nobody is listening to any of it. First, let me say, I am not a teacher and have never been a teacher. I AM a parent with children in elementary, high school and college.

Teachers DO spend hundreds of dollars each year on supplies for their students. I have seen them do it. Sure, they are not FORCED to do it by law and nobody is pointing a gun at their head, but they ARE forced by their conscience and the fact that they care if the children learn. Having 7 or 8 students who do not have the basic supplies for school each year, are they supposed to just let those children sit there and not participate? If they did, multiple things would happen. One, The teacher would be fired because the FCAT scores would fall or because they weren't doing their job in providing each child with the same level of education. Two, the child would fall farther and farther behind, eventually drop out of school and most likely become a detriment to society. Then people could complain about why society has gone to he**. Third, the parents of the child who didn't have the supplies and wasn't learning would start complaining that their child was being discriminated against because he was poor and would demand that the child have a tutor (paid for at taxpayer expense).

Yes, teachers choose their career path. Many of them chose their career a long time ago when teachers actually got respect from students and parents. Never in my life did I think that a student could cuss out a teacher and get away with it or throw a chair across the room. Had one of my siblings or I done that, we would have been scared to go home because our parents would have killed us.

Sure, teachers knew they weren't going to get rich when they chose to teach (as did firemen, policement, EMTs, etc) but 15 years ago the budget actually almost covered classroom expenses and their pay kept up with the cost of living.

Teachers ARE put in danger each day - especially in the middle and high schools. I saw a teacher restrain a student who was wigging out - the teacher ended up in an ambulance but the other students in the classroom remained safe. Don't even get me started about where the YRD (deputy) for the school was.

Like every profession, there are good and bad teachers. Some that care and those that just want to make it through the day to collect a paycheck. Luckily, in my opinion, the majority of our teachers actually, genuinely care about the students and care what happens to them down the road.

On the other hand, Dr. T and his little entourage are pathetic. I had the pleasure of speaking to two families who were in his former school district. Neither had a good thing to say except that they were glad that he was gone (but they did say that they were sorry we were now having to put up with him). Changes need to happen from the top down. You can't come up with an idea over breakfast on how to save money for the school district, meet with buddies over lunch to figure out how to "sell" it to the public and ignore the consequences. Dr. T is slick and will play one side against the other to get what he wants. He absolutely, positively sucks as an administrator but he is great at manipulation.

People need to get all the facts and make an informed decision about each situation (block schedules, outsourcing custodians, teacher raises, budget changes, administration perks, etc.).

We are facing a shortage of teachers and nurses in our nation. I truly hate to think what will happen when there aren't enough teachers to go in the classrooms. If you hate classroom sizes now, wait until there are 40 or 45 students in each classroom because there aren't enough teachers. Or until your taxes DOUBLE because that is what it will take to get enough teachers.

Each decision made by the board will have an effect on others, whether it be teachers, students, custodians, or the community. It's a ripple effect. I just hope that the ripple doesn't turn into a tidal wave.

Kerjolo-
From first hand experience I can tell you 2 things are happening in the schools.
1. More and more younger teachers are changing careers because they cannot afford to live on a beginning teachers salary in the Naples area.
2. Teachers are moving out of Collier County because of the drama created by Dr. T and his let's get back at teachers attitude.
I believe we are already in a wave that is growing by the day.

Us being a work to rule state dramatically reduces the power of our union. Our hands are tied. The community is the only thing that can help us. When we hear and see community members not supporting teachers it infuriates us. Would any of those people have jobs if it weren't for a teacher? There would be no docotors, lawyers, fire/policemen, etc. Our country on the whole needs to reexamine it's values. Hopefully, there aren't that many Dr. T's out there that take positions in education only to put money in his pocket and make a bad situation worse while laughing hysterically as he pits everyone against each other.

Aimeea,
I suggest that you proofread your submissions before sending them in.
You only fuel the naysayers by sending messages full of typos and grammatical errors giving further excuses to criticize teachers.

kerjolo, so with your holy ego you think people become police to make lots of money....you are sad! There is no real figure you can put on a man or woman who fought crime in a real city. You have NO idea and that is why you said it. Having done it, and been in a real war zone for most of it, none of the good folks I had the pleasure to serve with ever faced death to make lots of money, I can't believe you. Not everyone was born to go to college or be an educator, the Lord doesn't work that way. Some of us got dragged off out of High School to someplace "you" probably only read about in your history book. Upon returning to the real world, options were limited and so many of us were recruited into law enforcement, seems it was felt it was suitable for us. We did alot of good, saved alot of lives, protected alot of good folks. The stress of the environment broke down most of my follow commrades, drink,divorce and health issues took most of them. For the NYPD, they only fund the pensions of Police to 59 years of age because that is their life expectancy after the get rich job you seem to feel it is. Next time there is a rape or violent domestic in the neighborhood, perhaps you should call a teacher

It is laughable how Gator Hater, who ever he or she is can get to most of you.....you can't realize that Gator enjoys the back and forth squabbling. This Gator takes a point of view, some of you sound like Gator has you losing your minds, calm down, take a pill or something, it is jus ta blog