Saline school board approves 63 teacher layoffs to save $1.5 million
The Saline school board approved a list of 63 teachers to be laid off effective June 30.
The unanimous vote at Tuesday’s meeting will save the district an estimated $1.5 million, according to Superintendent Scot Graden.
However, 63 positions aren't expected to be axed. The district plans to eliminate 20 teaching positions overall to realize those savings, but 63 notices went out due to the contractual process involved in cutting the positions.
School board President David Friese read the names of the 63 teachers Tuesday who were notified earlier in the morning. He concluded by saying it was one of the hardest decisions he has had to make in his 38 years in education.
Board President David Friese reads a list of teachers slated for layoffs.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
The layoffs are part of the district’s effort to address a $3 million budget shortfall.Â
Assistant Superintendent Steve Laatsch said the district estimates eliminating 20 full-time positions. The district sent out 63 layoff notices because of teacher contract rules on seniority and federal mandates on who can teach what subjects and grades. It's a somewhat complex system in which teachers in axed positions can bid on other jobs they're "highly qualified" for, thus bumping lower seniority staff.
Only Trustee Lisa Slawson spoke after the list was read. She said everyone in the region is affected by the economy, and urged the Saline Education Association to put the kids' and community’s interests ahead of the Michigan Education Association.
“I hope that we can come together and do what’s best for our kids,” she said. “Because we know, as sure as we know our names, that what is best is for your child is to have these people in your classroom in September.”
Tim Heim, the teachers union president, said the union and district have signed a contract that provides 2.5-percent pay raises for Saline’s teachers in the next two school years.Â
He said the local union is an entity of the Michigan Education Association and is governed by its rules on reopening contracts. The MEA has only allowed one of 32 districts that have requested opening negotiations on signed contracts to do so.
Heim added no further formal negotiations are scheduled between the union and district, but he and Graden continue to meet informally to “work toward a common goal.”
Heim expressed concern that parents have begun to look at teachers as a funding source as they try to maintain a high level of education in Saline.
“Teachers are not a funding source for the school; the funding comes from the state through taxation ... but I think teachers across the state are looking at how they can provide financial assistance, more than they have done so in the past,” he said.
Parents who spoke during public comment largely criticized the teachers union for not opening negotiations and urged the two sides to work out a deal for their kids’ sake.
“The bottom line is we don’t have the money to pay the teachers another increase,” Kim Birkel said.
Dawn Ducca, the Houghton Elementary School PTO coordinator, said she was “outraged” the teachers union is filing a grievance over the district removing printers from the classroom. The two sides debated the issue at length on Tuesday following the approval of the layoffs.
“I don’t understand why the union is now demanding that a cost-saving measure must be reversed,” she said.
Graden said the district has already taken printers out of the rooms and has budgeted for $5,000 in savings for the remainder of the year. He estimates another $325,000 in savings on replacement costs.
Saline resident Paul Borger said the district and teachers union should examine a one-time 8-percent cut, which isn’t out of line with what others in the community have experienced. He asked for a show of hands from those who have experienced such a pay cut since the economy soured. Around half of the roughly 150 people in attendance raised their hands.
“It seems like a pretty simple solution," he said. “But we have two entities that can’t come together and solve 8-percent.”
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Jaded in Ann Arbor
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 7:57 p.m.
Teachers ARE underpaid. The beef the regular guy has with the situation is the obscene benefits package the union has put together. 100% dental 100% medical 100% vision and a sweet pension. A PENSION!!! It amounts to $20k a year extra.
Ian
Fri, Apr 23, 2010 : 6:29 p.m.
Our government has endless money for illegal wars yet cannot fund education. The $12 Billion a month on wars used to fund the military-complex to kill innocent people can fund a lot of teachers and programs. What a waste.
SalineMom
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 3:24 p.m.
@Scottyboy, The board hasn't "accepted" anything yet, since there has been no vote at an open meeting. Mr. Graden can negotiate and sign a "tentative agreement", but the board still has to vote. The SEA meeting was just yesterday afternoon for the SEA leadership to sell their "spin" once again.
A2CarGuy
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 11:27 a.m.
But 'ScottyBoy', part of that offer was to extend the current contract. The SEA knows extending the contract is out of the question, so I can't decide if the offer was (a) taking a chance that the Board and Superintendent wouldn't think it through, or (b) a cynical move just so they could claim to have offered concessions. It's clear from the comments here that Saline voters who weren't paying attention when the current contract was approved (by the SEA, Board, and Supt) are paying very close attention now. This contract won't be extended any more by anyone who wants to keep his/her job.
ScottyBoy
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 : 8:05 a.m.
The SEA offered to take no pay increases for the remainder of their contract and the loss of 3 professional days that if taken added another 1.5% to their salary. The only thing that the Board accepted was the loss of the 3 professional days!
ForTheKids
Thu, Apr 15, 2010 : 3:25 p.m.
We need to stop dragging up past history and past decisions and start dealing with the situation as it stands today. The simple fact is that there is not the money to cover the district expenses and the likelihood of any coming from State or Federal level is remote so why is the SEA leadership playing Russian Roulette with our kids' education? Yes, in an ideal world we would lobby Lansing, Lansing would increase our taxes and funding would be supplied to the schools. How long will that take? The kids have already conceded so much whether they know it or not. The administrators and support staff have also given up salary and benefits. Parents are required to pay more towards programs where contributions are allowed (after having suffered income losses and benefit reductions themselves). Whether the source of the problem is at State or National level is beside the point and we will be out of time trying to fix that broken machine. Now it's time for the SEA to step up and LEAD, to prove that they really are here for the kids. Teachers, we love you DEARLY, but we are getting short of time and short of patience. I hear that many of you are willing to negotiate so tell your union how you feel about this because, right now, the community is really starting to think that you are the ones who are causing the roadblock and I don't believe that's the case.
Jay Allen
Thu, Apr 15, 2010 : 11:01 a.m.
I see someone mentioned the school. Yep, its the Taj Mahal and it is in fact part of the reason my wife and I relocated. But the school was mostly paid for by CARES money IIRC. Now I too may be retarded, don't know for sure - the jury is out, but the school and its foundation has zero to do with the financial short comings we are in. People, it is really very simple. Its all about negotiating. To negotiate you must have multiple parties that are willing to listen to each other. When one side does all of the talking and the other side clams up and does zero, then you can now see the end result of this. If the leader of the union TRULY cares about the teachers then he would have already done WHATEVER IT TAKES to get negotiations reopened through the State. There is no way that the State would allow teachers to lose jobs (as has happened now) vs allowing the Union to negotiate a contract that better reflects the economic state we are now in. And again I/myself along with many others aren't hearing this "we cannot do that" crud. You have already tried to extend the current deal by replacing 1.5 million to the back end of the deal. That goes directly against your argument. There have been a few "union" type negotiators chime in here and also parents like me that aren't as educated as some of the parties involved. But if it is not blatantly apparent that if you do not get off your high heels and sit down and get this done, RIGHT, all of you will be out of jobs & replacements hired. That is where this will end or classrooms will have 60 kids in them as we won't have the number of teachers we need, but those teachers will be well paid. Times are tough all over and no one should be immune from it.
Jay Allen
Thu, Apr 15, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.
I see someone mentioned the school. Yep, its the Taj Mahal and it is in fact part of the reason my wife and I relocated. But the school was mostly paid for by CARES money IIRC. Now I too may be retarded, don't know for sure - the jury is out, but the school and its foundation has zero to do with the financial short comings we are in. People, it is really very simple. Its all about negotiating. To negotiate you must have multiple parties that are willing to listen to each other. When one side does all of the talking and the other side clams up and does zero, then you can now see the end result of this. If the leader of the union TRULY cares about the teachers then he would have already done WHATEVER IT TAKES to get negotiations reopened through the State. There is no way that the State would allow teachers to lose jobs (as has happened now) vs allowing the Union to negotiate a contract that better reflects the economic state we are now in. And again I/myself along with many others aren't hearing this "we cannot do that" crud. You have already tried to extend the current deal by replacing 1.5 million to the back end of the deal. That goes directly against your argument. There have been a few "union" type negotiators chime in here and also parents like me that aren't as educated as some of the parties involved. But if it is not blatantly apparent that if you do not get off your high heels and sit down and get this done, RIGHT, all of you will be out of jobs & replacements hired. That is where this will end or classrooms will have 60 kids in them as we won't have the number of teachers we need, but those teachers will be well paid. Times are tough all over and no one should be immune from it.
SalineMom
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:03 p.m.
@hornet You'd have to find an SEA member who would be willing to share, but from what I understand, the leadership very rarely ask their membership about anything - and probably don't tell them the truth either. Never would they reveal what those results are. The leadership powerbase roosts at the high school where they dictate to the other buildings. Many of the SEA members "get it" (especially in the elementary buildings), but all they want to do is teach and not get involved in the local politics.
Hornet
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 8:37 p.m.
@stunhsif - well put! Medley should definitely be recalled, we might as well just have Heim have Medley's vote on the school board. For those railing about the "fancy" buildings - they are paid for by a different millage and I believe not at all part of the funding issues at hand except for operating costs, which are likely not that much more than a "regular" building would require. The pool and auditorium, which are both first class, are rented out a very large percent of the time bringing in additional revenue. Saline schools are still going to be high caliber and some of the best in the area. Despite some building reconfiguration and higher class sizes, this is not anywhere near the issues being faced by other districts in the state (or nation). However, it is unfortunate that it came down to this when there may have been other ways to resolve the deficit issue. Does anyone know if the SEA has ever had a member vote on these issue of foregoing their 2.5% increase? It will be interesting to see what happens when the SEA contract expires, I would not expect much sympathy from citizens if they struck and with the market filled with unemployed teachers (some will be young and eager to work non-union if they've just been impacted due to union rules) - maybe we can wrestle away our education system from the clutches of the MEA. Of course, since Michigan is still not a Right To Work state, this may be a pipe dream.
DW
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 8:23 p.m.
how's that hope & change working out for everyone?
stunhsif
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 7:59 p.m.
Kudos to Lisa Slawson for speaking to the SEA union and imploring them to put the kids first instead of their union. David Friese and David Medley should be recalled. They are empty suits in regards to the kids and the taxpayers. They are backing the SEA and the MEA 100%. Tim Heim is in my opinion a disgrace, he cares only about himself and no one else. What a shame that a guy like this can single handedly hold our children and the taxpayers hostage to his selfish desires!!!
SalineMom
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 5:05 p.m.
@aaparent I checked last year's board minutes and the school of choice period was middle of may to middle of june - keep an eye on the school web site - i don't think the board has approved continuation of the program and the numbers/grades yet this year.
eyeloveypsi
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 3:41 p.m.
Seems to be a lot of negativity toward the teacher contract. I wasn't there, but did people hold guns to the heads of the school board members when they agreed to this contract? I agree that the teachers should give something back, but I'm really bothered that the board gave away so much. I cannot be mad at the teachers, we all know they will pay when this contract ends - whether or not they "give something back" now or not.
hellopony
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 2:54 p.m.
Don't be so quick to assume that all or many SEA members are in favor of pay cuts or reduction in benefits.
hellopony
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 2:17 p.m.
Don't be so quick to assume that all or many SEA members are in favor of pay cuts or reduction in benefits.
hellopony
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 1:43 p.m.
Don't be so quick to assume that all or many SEA members are in favor of pay cuts or reduction in benefits.
aaparent
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 1:28 p.m.
Saline mom--Thanks for the answer. Is there a form online somewhere? It's sad teachers are pink slipped if there were other alternatives.
SalineMom
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 1:18 p.m.
I'm not real familiar with how unions operate these days, but it seems to me if a majority of the SEA members voted and wanted to take an across the board pay-cut to potentially save as many jobs as possible - how could the MEA stop them? Maybe I'm naive, but if I'm a dues paying member and those are my wishes, and they just say "No", I'm looking at opting out of the MEA and taking a look at another union. The UAW learned this the hard way, you'd think current events is part of the curriculum.
Mia Cents
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 12:09 p.m.
Maybe it is time for this to all come to a head. Maybe it is time for the teachers union to be in touch with the real world and their customrs, us, the tax payers. Wouldn't it be nice if all of us could ne tenured, not have performance appraisals completed by our customers or peers, be able to have a CONTRACT and what is a "pension"? Healthcare premiums 50% under the average cost for the paying majority of americans? Average wage of $75000.00 without accountability? On the other side of the coin, shame on us for signing a contract without any type of out clause. Lastly, our experience with SS, we had a better experiences with "new" teachers to the district. The "experienced" teachers were "my way or the highway" AND used the same course work and test that our other child had 5 years earier. What would happen if the vote at the union meeting for the changes indicated that reviews from students or parents would way in on who would get the pink slip and not based on years? Also agree, what is the true root cause of the budget shortfall and it isn't all the state, look deeper. And maybe it would hurt the teachers or the students to get up and walk a bit to get copies.
ladydi
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 12:04 p.m.
@Ram...thank you so much for the information. Key word being "limited." lol
SalineMom
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : noon
@aaparent Saline has taken very limited amount of school of choice students for the last several years. Limited numbers in limited grades. I would guess that it may change this year. Some of the teachers on the list had 6 years of experience in the district.
Ram
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 11:52 a.m.
heresmine: The focus is on teachers because the administration union and support staff union have both agreed to concessions with the school district. Also, salaries and benefits for teachers are the largest portion of the general fund. ladydi: Saline is a limited school of choice school. Information on the school of choice program during the 2008-2009 school year can be found here (www.salineschools.com/documents/20080515_schoolofchoiceinfo.pdf)
ladydi
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 11:37 a.m.
@InsideTheHall... Saline IS NOT a school of choice or believe me, with their MEAP scores and fancy buildings, there would be a stampede to Saline! And as far as my taxes go, I paid $5,000 last year and my school district decided to purchase the title of "Best Schools in Michigan" with the taxpayers hard earned money.
heresmine
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 11:34 a.m.
Why is the focus on teachers only? What's wrong with an across the board cut in wages and finding a different source for providing benefits? Also, unless the MEA is a signatory to the contract then the SEA needs to deal with the school board now without attempting to stall reopening a contract. If there's a problem between the MEA and SEA, then that's exactly what it is and it shouldn't involve the board.
jlkddd
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.
I'm so glad that finally someone has mentioned that ridiculous school that they built. I went to Saline during the years right before they started buidling it and going to the new school I didn't see how we had enough students when I went there, and graduated in 2002 to fill that new school! They probably could have saved a lot of money be just building another average size school and having two highschools. It seems to work just fine in Ann Arbor... I would also love to see a list of teachers that were pink slipped, hopefully it was none of the good ones, there were quite a few that shouldn't be teaching, that should be let go, but of course had tenure.
SAStudent
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.
Hey Saline Community Members, continue this important discussion at www.salineforum.com before this article (and its comments) fade into the black hole of the internet....
Ram
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 10:49 a.m.
SEA leader Tim Heim's 45 minute complaint about the printing decision ( A COST SAVINGS MEASURE THAT DIDN'T CUT JOBS) shows the entitled, out-of-touch leadership in the SEA. Hopefully the SEA membership speaks their mind at their Union meeting on Friday and motivates him to do his job right.
UNC
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.
As a former local leader of an area MEA affiliate, I know that the MEA/NEA cannot prevent a local from re-opening a contract. That is simply not true.
aaparent
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 10:29 a.m.
Is Saline a school of choice? Does anyone know if teachers who got pink slips had less or more experience.
InsideTheHall
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 10:19 a.m.
Ladydi: Saline is a schoold of choice district. Suggest you move into the district and pay the taxes and housing costs associated with maintaing the community. Margaret Thacher: The only problem with socialism is you eventually run out of other people's money. Don't rant on us because we make the choice to live in the Saline district.
failed2conform
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 10:01 a.m.
Thumbs up to SalineMom & TheAnnouncerMan007! I have followed your posts for months and believe your message to be clear and unwavering. Never have you blamed the union for causing the predicament we find ourselves in. It does seem that others have - in a thinly veiled attempt at martyrdom perhaps? What I have come to understand is that the lion's share of the district's budget is tied to teacher's wages. Few people dispute the quality of our teachers. I would imagine fewer yet think true concessions from the union are just. What percentage of the district's budget goes to SEA member salaries, and what percentage of the district's shortfall has been eliminated using measures affecting things other than SEA member salaries? Is it right to have the minority percentage - of the budget - pay off 100% of this shortfall?
Charles
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:56 a.m.
Anyone remember John Visos? He was on the school board from 93-96 I believe and I remember the entire town wanting his head on a platter for being fiscally responsible with Saline Schools. He was adamant about not having the money to pay for a new high school that rivaled most luxury hotels... Saline is one of those yuppy towns where everyone wants to have their cake and eat it to... As long as you keep pushing people out like Mr.Visos things like this will continue to plague your accounting! It is simple, you don't buy things you can't afford and Saline schools has lived well above their means for a very long time. Teachers in the district are among the highest paid in the entire state, the fact that they are getting ANY increase in salary at all should prove to every person out there that they don't care one bit about the children in Saline and are simply playing into the politics of hiding behind the children and shouting "we are privileged!"
ladydi
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:52 a.m.
I have also "envied" parents that live in the Saline school district. My child attends Lincoln and I've always wanted Saline to be a school of choice, but, like a country club, Saline wanted to remain exclusive and now look...look at all the tax dollars that could have come your way had you not held your heads so high! I feel so terrible for the teachers and students and hope that positive lessons can come of this.
Susie Q
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:37 a.m.
As someone else has so graciously pointed out: 63 teachers are NOT losing their jobs, maybe 20 will not be hired back. In the coming days (maybe tomorrow)you will see headlines about Ann Arbor teachers being laid off and the numbers will also be MUCH higher than the jobs actually lost. Any of the public employee unions are going to be unwilling to offer concessions until the State of Michigan gets through with their budget fixes. There are proposals to increase public school employees' pension contributions by 3% (which is a 3% pay cut); to cut all public employees' pay by 5% and freeze it for 3 years; require all public employees to contribute 20% of their health care premiums; etc. Until the schools and their employees know what the state plans are, the local school budgets will be held hostage by the legislators in Lansing. Contact your reps and tell them to GET IT DONE NOW!
SalineDoe
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:36 a.m.
20 teachers or 63 teachers - it doesn't matter. Try telling any one of those 63 that are now in the lay-off lottery that they have only a 1/3rd chance of losing their job and see the reaction. If Salinehornet is correct (and I have my doubts) that the union simply cannot renegotiate any contract terms b/c the MEA won't allow it, then I guess the discussion is over. Lay off as many teachers as necessary b/c there is no other solution. But how a backhanded "$1.5 million union concession" could be offered as a contract change w/o upsetting the MEA is beyond me.
SDP
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:35 a.m.
Request to AnnArbor.com... Please post the list of the teachers (or a link to the list.) Since this was read at the meeting, it must be available as a public record. Given the good coverage of this issue, this seems like a glaring hole. This is the type of service I was expected the online new source to provide.
onlinejoey
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:23 a.m.
The thing that struck me from the meeting last night was the printer issue. I cannot fathom why the teachers are grieving the moving of their printers! I respect Saline teachers and feel they do an excellent job, but their attempt to force the district to maintain printers in every classroom - unreal! My neighbor who teaches in another school district, who does not have a printer in her classroom has told me Saline teachers have the reputation of being entitled. Until last night, I disagreed. While I have blamed the SEA leadership more than the rank and file teachers in the past, I now have to wonder about the judgment of all of them. Either they are weak and don't want to stand up to their leadership or they are out of touch with reality.
Jay Allen
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:11 a.m.
Please, allow me to be brutally honest here. I am NOT "anti teacher", I am "pro" doing things right and getting to the source of the issue. Don't just look at the surface, dig a little deeper here my friends. My wife and I grew up in Milan. We always "envied" Saline for what it had to offer. We were always like the little brother and I know many Milanites who have gravitated to Saline. We came here because of the school system and hence our children's education. The fact is I too am not happy with what is taking place, I am very upset and would choose to use other words vs "upset" LOL But to just about every last person here complaining and sharing thoughts, this was coming MONTHS ago. I sat at the SHS Girls Swimming State Championship banquet and I spoke to a very high ranking SHS person (will not share names unless directed I can by staff). This was November. To the letter "T" what was shared with me has come true. Most are looking at the effects and not the causes. Stupid Analogy: You have a headache, you take an aspirin. The aspirin helps the headache but what caused the headache in the first place? The vast majority of you are looking at the effect and NOT the cause. @salinehornet: "Giving up the 2.5% raise does not guarantee there will be no lay-offs. They are two mutually exclusive decisions. Teachers could give back any amount and lay-offs could still occur." Please show me any profession where there ARE in fact guarantees in place? Professional sports with their inflated salaries, maybe top end CEO's with fortune500 companies. But in the world of -ANY- public institution, show me guarantees. You speak of "two decisions" and speak again about "no guarantees. What are the "two decisions"? The 2.50% is a RAISE on TOP of what they make.......That is NOT a concession as most of Michigan has had to do to keep their job. In my home alone our "gross income" was 7.50% LESS than the year previous. So "the average Saline resident" makes less and the teachers get a raise? @salinehornet: "The $1.5 million offered to Graden was to be paid back when the teacher retires which, on average, would have been in 15 years." As defined by Webster: CONCESSION: 1 a : the act or an instance of conceding As defined by Webster: CONCEDE: 1 : to grant as a right or privilege So it is your opinion that we just move the problem to 15 years from now and let someone else fix it? And still, this came at the PRICE of extending the CURRENT contract by 1 year at a 2.50% RAISE. @salinehornet: "Teachers unions are bound by the national MEA guidelines. It would be illegal to break a contract without this approval. " Really? This is the foundation of your argument? Then if this is true, then how on earth did anything happen at all? How was this 1.5 million dollar deference appropriated and the 1 year extension discussed? You cannot have it both ways. This is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. salinehornet. I know you too just want a good education for our kids. I do as well. But it is unrealistic in this economy that the majority of the population suffers an income loss or make concessions. The UAW is a perfect example of that. You cannot just sit and what you have about "contracts" and "illegal" and expect a free pass. It is tragic that 63 teachers were lost. But if the ship is not righted soon, this is not over.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:11 a.m.
That's the union for you. You can't do pay cuts but you can fire employees. I bet those 63 teachers aren't so thrilled about their wonderful union now.
SalineMom
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9 a.m.
Many of you should have come to the board meeting last night, or read the article more clearly. The will be "only" about 20 teachers who will potentially not have jobs. The administration is legally obligated to notify many more because of seniority "bumping" and teachers who are qualified to teach certain subjects. 20 times an average of 75,000 in pay and benefits is 1.5 million.
Polecat
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 8:58 a.m.
As an HR professional involved in union negotiations, I can tell you that this is a time of strength for employers. During negotiations, reductions can be had by standing strong and allowing the union to strike. Once that happens the company is free to replace them and there are plenty of unemployed people willing to work. Unions should do their best to live to fight another day and not be difficult. I have witnessed a few decertifications because people can't live on strike pay. The school system needs to take a strong stand and use any public forum to show the union leadership's stance to the citizens of Saline. There will be no sympathy for the union unless they realize they need to play their part and quit thinking like it is 20-30 years ago when unions actually mattered.
ChrisW
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 8:39 a.m.
How does laying off 63 teachers save only $1.5 million? Let's assume they make $50,000 in salary and benefits, 63 x $50K = $3.15 million. Does Saline continue to pay severance or benefits to laid off teachers?
InSaline
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 8:36 a.m.
It's too bad some people write things like, "Glad I don't have kids in this district." The teachers in Saline are not the ones negotiating. They are the ones in the classroom trying to make each and every day meaningful for their students. It is the negotiation process that is making things a mess. Because of the teachers (and their wonderful families!) that Saline is a GREAT place to send your kids.
salinehornet
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 8:26 a.m.
Giving up the 2.5% raise does not guarantee there will be no lay-offs. They are two mutually exclusive decisions. Teachers could give back any amount and lay-offs could still occur. The $1.5 million offered to Graden was to be paid back when the teacher retires which, on average, would have been in 15 years. Teachers unions are bound by the national MEA guidelines. It would be illegal to break a contract without this approval.
treetowncartel
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.
The reason teachers do not want pay reductions has to do with the pension formula at the state level. Unions are more immenable to increasing out of pocket costs for the members, instead of a wage reduction. If management was not inclined to show a pyrhic victory to the voters by way of cutting wages, and looked for other ways for the teachers to contribute to related expenses, then the district may have been able to save more jobs. One other thing that many of the anti-teaching crowd seems to forget is a lot of teachers spend their own money on things for their classroom and their students. I don't know too many people employed in the private sector who do that.
a2huron
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 8:03 a.m.
Wow. What a messed up district. Glad I don't have kids in this district, since it appears the kids come last (though not far behind low-tenured teachers thrown under the "bus" to save a 2.5% raise for the rest). If you can't forgo a 2.5% raise to save a colleague's job (63 colleagues, at that), then you don't deserve any respect. Very unfortunate. I guess folk's true colors come out when push comes to shove (in other words, "pushing" is okay as long as it is someone else getting pushed).
belboz
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 7:55 a.m.
Next round of contract negotiations better slam the salary and benefits. 63 teachers could have kept working if concessions were made. Plenty of people will be out there willing to take the jobs at lower salaries and benefits. I will blame the teachers because they account for the largest portion of the budget. Quit asking for more money by asking for how funding is allocated. The state only has so much money. If you get more, someone else gets less.
Jay Allen
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 7:37 a.m.
The money that "salinehornet" speaks of was not a wage concession. It was a back end loaded deal and it came at a cost of extended the current deal 1 year. To the few folks who are blaming administration accepting the offer. Can you please stop it, please? How did anyone (including yourself) see the economic mess that we are in coming? No one has a crystal ball and the best deal was made at the time. No one could have ever forcasted the reduction in funding by the State just this year alone. No one could have ever saw the reduction in students like we have either. I can stand on my front step and I can see 3 homes that are now in foreclosure within the last 3 months alone. In these 3 homes 7 children lived there and they now are not in Saline. I would like to point out at what is double talk (and this can be verified by reading his remarks just from last night). On one hand the teacher's leader says that negotiations cannot be reopened and then comes back and hides behind the remarks that the teachers were willing to concede money. His remarks. Not made up. If you cannot reopen contract talks then how can you "concede" to anything? And again, it wasn't a true concession, it was simply a movement of money and it would cost a year to be added to the current contract. My point is simple, the person that is doing the talking & negotiating is not being truthful and his remarks are not the view of the masses. I have spoke to many (and I do mean many) teachers, admins, and parents, how many complaining can say the same? This was coming 5.5 months ago. This is not a news flash. I enjoy a nice health benefit package through my wife's employer. I know what we pay out of pocket, I know what the total package costs are, and I know what our coverage is. Now, I encourage everyone who is upset to look at the health benefits the teacher's have. THEY NEED HEALTH CARE, I AM NOT ADVOCATING REMOVING THEIR HEALTH CARE!!!!!!! What I am saying is to cut the coverage to something like the "average Saline resident" enjoys and look at what the savings would be there alone. Another person above who is also a voice of reason suggested an 8.00% decrease in salary. I agree with this person! But if the health care was reduced to a more reasonable level a decrease of about +/- 4.00% - 5.00% is all it would take. There are ways to get this done. The issue is by definition "negotiating" is a two way street. Thank You for reading this.
InsideTheHall
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 7:02 a.m.
Tom Do you have the list of layed off teachers or a link to access??
InsideTheHall
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 6:57 a.m.
The MEA/SEA got the result they wanted. They threw 63 "brothers & sisters" under the bus to perserve a 2.5% raise for the tenured bunch. Kudos to Supt. Graden was doing what has to be done. Shame on Timmy Heim for playing union boss and over playing his hand. Keep the faith young teachers your day will come when the MEA is purged from the educational process. The real losers remain the students who will have a diminished education because a bunch of adults have screwed it up.
sellers
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 6:40 a.m.
Sometimes I wish my taxes were sent to local or regional government instead of federal government. It really seems like that is where the changes impact me the most. I wonder if people would have passed the local millage efforts around Ann Arbor if the federal government was not so big and obscuring of everything local.
SalineMom
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 6:26 a.m.
Mr. Perkins, Just for accuracy - Mr. Friese is the Board President, Ms. Slawson is a trustee. @Salinehornet The contract was signed in May of 2008 and the board voted 6-1 to accept it - if they were angry, then I guess they all would have voted no.
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 6:10 a.m.
Mr. Helm stated "Teachers are not a funding source for the school" He better get that idea out of his head - The MEA is driving me to move my kids to private schools. I am totally fed up with how the UNION bosses around the school district and the tax payer.. Washtenaw Christian Academy pays perhaps less than half as much to their teachers and yet the kids there are fantastic - When it comes to a "you get what you pay for" attitude - all I can say is 'your fired.' And there are great HOME SCHOOLING support groups everywhere. Clearly - the MEA is not supporting the kids - they only support ever increasing cost structures. Everyone has cut back DRASTICALLY in Michigan (The Great Recession State) I suppose a 2.5% INCREASE is a tough cut-back for teachers.
Ram
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 5:42 a.m.
The offer to "give back $1.5 million" is simply a delay of the current contract. If Graden were to accept the offer, along with the school board, they would all be OUT OF A JOB because the community will not accept a continuation of the current contract and its ridiculously low health care rates for teachers
salinehornet
Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 5:20 a.m.
The SEA has offered to give back $1.5 million to the district and it was rejected. STOP blaming the teachers, whom you laud during good times as our country's unsung heroes, yet during an economic crisis lambast as not doing their "fair share." The Saline community rejected a millage; Proposal A is and inadequate source for funding for schools; Superintendent Graden knowingly signed this contract last summer and is now trying to save face from Board members who are angry with him for doing so. You get what you pay for and by continuing to cut teachers and attack teachers, this community is losing its reputation as an excellent district. This will drive away the best teachers, not only from Saline, but from the profession itself. Contact legislatures to change the funding source for education instead of attacking the very person who is dedicated to educating your child.