Personally, I think their requests are extremely bold after last year. It's like beating the crap out of someone and the next day asking them to take you out for dinner.

Bill - Feelings of spite would be valid, given how the district treated its employees last year, but I think it's much more complicated than that. Sometimes when a person is kicked around and bullied enough, it comes time to stand up with the little control he has left... to make a point if nothing else. The School Board and Superintendent have some serious apologizing to do.

Make certain to let Let Lori, Bill S. and D.Severson know that this is their mark on Janesville. This is a result of mismanagement on their watch. Lori S. you smile and chuckle at the WEASEL'S budget speech and come back pretending that you care about kids, how pathetic! This is ALL their doing because they were the elected board (notice I didn't say leaders)when it all went down! What a legacy they have left! Raise my taxes please, I am a taxpayer and I care abou the valuation of my properties! To the 3 unions do not open your contracts, this is not your responsibility! To those of you having contracts with Billy and his business go in and tell him you want to open your signed contract and pay less, I am sure he is willing, what a joke!

Newbie's partisanship blinds him/her. Sodemann is not holding his breathe for the union. He and Knilans are playing politics with Janesville's children's public education.
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If Knilans were truly interested in negotiating concessions with the union wouldn’t he have consulted directly with the union before creating the legislation? Dommerhausen already reported that Sodemann-Knilans worked unilaterally to amend the state budget. Dr. Schulte, other board members, and—most important—the workers (who are directly affected) were NOT directly consulted.
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Newbie is naive to believe this legislation was done in a spirit of pragmatism and cooperativeness with labor. It was political maneuvering. Both Knilans and Sodemann want nothing more than the ultimate end of professional education unions in Janesville. Both know that a weakened labor force strengthens their larger political agendas. This is just like the Koch brothers planned and just why unions won’t concede.
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Why won’t newbie and other conservative types look at Walker-Knilans-Sodemann’s actions critically?
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Answer: Spite for union workers

i_luv_jvl, if there ever had been such a quid pro quo, don't you think Mr. Parr would have cited it by now? Instead he's hemmed and hawed about how dangerous it would be to reopen the contract. Rep. Knilans went so far as to write a bill that passed and was signed into law that addressed Mr. Parr's "fears". There was no offer of this for that, i_luv_jvl. Just a flat statement that he union was willing to help school districts such as Janesville's with their budget shortfalls. And if that really was an offer of this for that, then why have other school district unions agreed to such concessions anyway? No, there is only one reason that Janesville's union won't follow through on that pledge. Spite.

Newbie - the offer still holds. Give them their collective bargaining right back and they'll pay. It's not hot air.

Mr. Sodemann, please, don't hold your breath waiting for Mr. Parr to discuss concessions. He and his union don't have to, and it's clear from the comments on GazetteXtra, the teachers aren't interested either.

Sure, their union said they were willing to step up to help, that they were wiling to help pay for their more than generous benefits. But that was just so much hot air, spoken at a time when they desperately were trying to stop the new law. They weren't serious. It was just a gambit.

So they lost in court, and they lost at the polls. Now it's payback time. They can't punish the Governor, they can't punish the legislature, but they can punish the school board and the overtaxed and underemployed residents of Janesville. And so they shall. It would be nice to be wrong on this, but it's my opinion that the die is cast. There will be no concessions.

It's too late to lay off more teachers. There is nothing that can be done to force a re-evaluation by the union. At least until next year. Not that they will be anymore willing to help then either. We already know that the union would rather see the low seniority workers lose their jobs than compromise on this issue. Just as we know they will fight any effort to identify poor teachers so that they can be laid off first.

In spite of the rhetoric, the union has made it clear, it's not really for the children after all. The current public school concept is a failure. We need a new way to educate our children.

Talk about Stockholm Syndrome...One citizen,with substandard benefits cheering for Walker to take away the little he has left.

Cut, cut, cut, cut! The days of small class sizes at the K-2nd grades is over. Just remember a few years from now when the districts' students are struggling even more in reading and math. The research clearly shows the importance of low teacher to student ratio in the early years. However, our kindegarten and first graders will now be in much larger classes. If we truly want our youngsters to start their education off right, we need much smaller class sizes. 25-30 kids in a kindegarten or first grade classroom is irresponsible.

kidsfist -- it is a zero sum game. Either the $150m comes from the school budget or the tax payers. So the spend is still reduced, its just a matter of where it comes from. The arguement is that teachers have had the power of the union negotiating wages and benefits for years the compensation is now out of tough with private employees. It was slewed the other direction for years, and has over corrected to a point where teachers need to contribute to their benefit packages. This goes for all public employees, but needs to be looked at on a case by case basis.

Find me one public employee represented by a union who can afford to hide his/her income and evade taxes. The majority of earnings by public employees goes right back into the local economy and local, state & federal revenues. We are not the enemy of the community.

lovemycountry - if the savings is coming out of employees' spendable income, that also strips the local economies of $150 million business. . .

Another good teacher resigned yesterday.
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Morale is an important part of job satisfaction -- hard to look forward to working with an employer who is avoiding responsibility for financial decisions. . . year, after year. It is even harder that the employer continues to feed the negative conversations in this community.
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What a weight was lifted when the contract was signed by both the teachers and the board last fall! Since Gov. Walker began pressing his agenda to protect the high income supporters and call it "open for business" while cutting into public education and stripping public employees (some) of collective bargaining rights, the weight and pressure has been unceasing. This is not whining, it is the morale-busting reality teachers are living under.
~~~~~

We do understand the difficult economic times. We also know that we did not cause them, we did not create the financial crisis the district is facing, and we pay taxes, too. Is it really unreasonable to spread the costs of this budget across the community as a whole? Those who can easily afford it are laughing at the rest of us who are struggling to live within our means - IMO

So far...Ninety-three school districts have restructured benefit costs, saving taxpayers more than $150 million. If each of Wisconsin's school districts achieve this level of savings, statewide savings would cross the $500 million mark.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op...

I know a few as well. And yes, they have to pay unemployment insurance to the state, which is sure to increase this year. They sure did handle affairs this last year backwards. They lost a lot of good teachers who took other jobs before the district managed to start the recall process they knew was going to happen anyway. Look at all the job postings here. Ridiculous. They also ended up spending thousands in training this summer for the "new" positions to replace the old, that are actually the same as the old anyway. Ask any guidance counselor (a.k.a. academic coach) or LMS (a.k.a. Innovation Specialist).

I'd be interested to see how many teachers that were layed off collected unemployment this summer. I know a few personally that collected nearly $3,000 in unemployment over the summer because they were not recalled. And now they applied and got a position back in the district. Doesn't the district have to pay the unemployment?

Remove the Bill that strips public employees of their collective bargaining rights and we'll talk. Removing another "Bill" would make me nearly as happy.
Just like the Governor said, we're not interested in negotiating.

Around and around the mulberry bush we go...
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Of course, teachers do have top level benefits, but at the sacrifice of salaries as compared to private sector professionals of similar educational background and experience. Check out the comprehensive proof:
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http://www.slge.org/vertical/Sites/%7BA2...
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It is always so simple for the conservatives. What shrek sees as a small concession equates to over $150,000 in lost earnings over a teacher's career.
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Add in that most of these same educators making the $150,000 concessions pay taxes as well.
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Complicating the conversation further is the reality that educators (unlike many private sector employees) pay for most of their own professional development (in excess of $20,000 over the course of a teacher's career).
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It is clearly not simple concessions proposed by the conservatives--it is compounding concessions destined to ruin the pool and morale of quality educators in Janesville and Wisconsin.

Nobody is asking the teachers to bear the cost for the whole communities education. We are just asking for the teachers to bear a small percentage of the cost of their top level benefits.

I agree. It sure seems that everything Sodeman does on the board is anti-teacher. He doesn't seem to really care about the kids as much as he cares about his reputation with the tax payer.

Reason #1 why I will never live within the limits of Janesville: Sodemann is on the school board. Until the people of this city realize that he is the last person around qualified to be leading the school board, we are doomed to repeat the cycle of no jobs and crappy education.

I meant the private sector in my first sentence.

Justsomeguy - I agree that the public sector has suffered in the last five to seven years. My point was that teachers' salaries have been suffering for 20 years, and now some people seem to think that the teachers who've "had it so good" should now have to pay since their downslide wasn't as apparent, having been spread out over a longer period of time. That just doesn't make sense.
I do also agree that we have a problem that needs to be addressed. I believe that problem should be taken on by the whole community, and like you, I lend a deaf ear when people suggest those in the educational field should bear the cost for the whole community's education.

justsomeguy....by no means do I belittle your case study comparison to public sector employees...however, a more comprehensive study has been done on the public v. private employee topic revealing all of the following key findings:
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Jobs in the public sector typically require more education than private sector positions. State and local employees are twice as likely to hold a college degree or higher as compared to private sector employees.
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Wages and salaries of state and local employees are lower than those for private sector employees with comparable earnings determinants, such as education and work experience. State workers typically earn 11 percent less and local workers 12 percent less.
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During the last 15 years, the pay gap has grown
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Benefits make up a slightly larger share of compensation for the state and local sector.
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http://www.slge.org/vertical/Sites/%7BA2...

i_luv_jvl, I've seen public sector employees talk about foregoing higher salaries they could get in the private sector in exchange for better benefits. I think you're uninformed about what has really been going on in the private sector. The money doesn't flow as freely as you seem to think.

Personally, my salary has been frozen for 4 years now, my out of pocket insurance costs have risen pretty sharply every year I've been employed, my employer's retirement match has dwindled and as of 2008 it was discontinued entirely. At the same time my employer has laid off about 20% of our workforce, so I also am having to take on the work of the people we lost in addition to my normal workload. I'm grateful I still have a job.

I have great respect for teachers and what they do. But when I hear the "you private sector employees have it so good" argument I turn a deaf ear.

Mr. Sodemann, can your customers stop in and talk about concessions and open up their phone contracts with you? The economy is rough, so perhaps you can give your customers a break and you'll get nothing in return.

To discuss only concessions? No thanks.

Shrek, you speak in general terms. It was extremely rare for a district to voluntary go beyond the 3.8%. They knew that was all they had to offer legally, regardless of what the union requested, and would certainly win in arbitration because of meeting the requirements of the QEO.
Do you know what the salary increases of the last 20 years have been in the JANESVILLE district? Almost all years before the last contract were 1% and below. Is that a figure you stand behind in your position of feeling the teachers need to give more so that YOU don't have to? Who is it that you feel doesn't care about kids? Time to look in the mirror, my friend. You support any option that attacks any pocketbook but your own.

Worriedcitizen; exactly! If you don't like the taxes going up and the teachers gwtting a decent salary and benefits package, move.

Thanks for the link, it proves my point very well. The QEO mandated a minimum 3.8% total package increase. With the increases in insurance costs it guaranteed a pay increase in the 1.5-2.5% range each year, about the same as the private sector. Other contractual increases and additives allowed teachers to get even more. Many districts even agreed to increases above the 3.8% when times were good. It was a pretty good deal for the teachers.

Description of QEO:
http://www.weac.org/wsc/links/wauwatosa/...

The QEO set a percentage increase at 3.8 TOTAL package. If health care cost increases ate up more than that increase, then step increases could actually be reduced to compensate for the jump in benefit cost.
How do you suppose that has affected the salaries of teachers during the last two decades of health care cost increases? Then people who have no idea what they're talking about dare to comment on how teachers haven't had to share the burden because of their supreme package? Those people have no idea how it really works and how the teachers have been paying for increased healthcare costs for 20 years already. The government banks on the ignorance of the general public in understanding how it really works. It's a travesty to again attack the teachers for something they've been paying for all the while the rest of society was thriving (90s) and beyond.

The QEO did not limit salaries, it guaranteed a minimum amount raise each year.

When did I say it is miserable for everyone? I just think that government has a spending problem that we need to fix.

especially*

As for the analogy, allowing one group to feel they deserve to be singled out from having to bear the burden of balancing a budget that affects the group as a whole is a perfect correlation.

Public employees have looked upon their deferred compensation as their most valuable benefits package. It's been one of the best aspects financially of choosing to work in the public sector, versus choosing a more equitable position in the private sector. These deferred compensation packages have many times has been at the cost of very minimal salary increases, expecially for teachers under the constraint of the QEO. The picture is not nearly as simple as you choose to see it.

i-luv-jvl........That is a truly stupid analogy. Nowhere is he suggesting that public sector workers are inferior. The point of concentration is expenses. The private sector should not be on the hook for 100% funding of the public sector pensions and almost the same percentages related to HC premiums. If you look at it from that perspective the inferior group is the public sector--they were forced to support a benefit structure that was far and away better that anything they had for a relatively small group of superior(at least in their mind) people........Walker corrected that for the betterment of both groups.........

Teachers are aware of a psychological experiment called the brown-eyed/blue-eyed study. If curious, you can see it here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/...
Basically, the Governor has done the same thing. He's suggested that the public workers are inferior and should be the group to bear the burden of balancing his self-constructed budget deficit. The rest of the workers (private) are thereby set as superior, and they are playing out the same scenerio as the experiment. You've been fooled into supporting our Governor's desire to develop a budget plan that rewards his campaign contributors. Human nature amazed me in the teacher's 3rd grade experiment, and it amazes me here.

Shrek, on one hand you say that things are so miserable for everyone and the teachers need to apparently share in the suffering. Then you say the teachers must envy you for having a good job. Which is it?

Kids,
I was referring to the following:

Are you ok with financially supporting industries who have not seen a red line once -- from before Sept. 2001? Are you ok that WI has some of the most expensive health care in the nation? People who know how to work the system are laughing at you all the way to their offshore banks. . .

These are not part of the discussion.
***
The fiscal mismanagement in the JSD is a serious problem, other school districts are doing much better. They are doing better because they have been better managed over the years and the teachers are paying a portion of their benefit costs now. JSD has cut quite a bit and they need the teachers to contribute to balance the budget, there is no other realistic alternative.
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And just to clarify, I will gladly pay an additional $55 per year in taxes when the teachers union agrees to pay a portion of their benefit cost.

I do the same.... my brother and sister in law are both teachers. Things are bad everywhere. I donate a couple hundred bucks worth of supplies every year even though I really ain't got the extra money. I work two jobs. I do what I can to help. I grow weary of all the elitist derogatory comments from some of the people who post here. It really sickens me to see some of the stuff on here. How many of the little faces you look into are from a single mother whose only source of income is McDonald's? Do you ridicule those students? Do you allow the more fortunate students to bully them? The hypocrisy some of these "for the kids" people exhibit is ridiculous.

unclesmoothie, your sarcasm belittles you. Teachers are well aware of the tough economic times faced in our communities. We see it on the faces of our students and their parents. We buy supplies, books, clothing and food to help them out.

Awww, shrek, it is exactly the discussion. The SDJ was warned repeatedly every time they chose not to levy taxes that this time would come. Now, some members of the board and some bloggers want teachers to put their own families' budgets at risk because the community and the board have not been forward thinking enough to recognize the truth when they were told. The school funding system in WI is a mess. I have attended 2-3 meetings here in Janesville sponsored by groups trying to get changes made over the past 10 years. I saw few-0 board members at those meetings. Have you attended any pro-active, solutions oriented meetings to address this issue?

Kidsfirst,
Many of you points are valid, but that is not the discussion here. This discussion is about the fact that the JSD is in financial trouble and the teachers will not step up to help out.
Please stay on topic.

Orange,
Typical liberal, you can only attack personally, rather than presenting any facts.
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I would guess that you are the one that works in a low level job because you expect a handout. Maybe you should work hard so that you can get ahead in life, then you will understand our point of view.

You teacher supporters need to quit hating the rest of us because we have good jobs, dont need a union and believe that you should make your own success in this world. Quit the whining and grow up. Worry more about the children's education and less about your own pocketbook.

I was unaware that the teachers are the only ones who pay taxes. Thanks for clearing that up!

Someone please explain to me why 700 tax paying teachers should bear the tax burden of 10,000 kids in a community of 65,000 people.

And orange... I have done some of those crappy jobs after my job went to Mexico (courtesy of NAFTA). It's nice to see how you look down your nose in hilarity at people who have fallen on hard times or are trying to just get ahead. I'm glad there's a city full of caring folks like you. You should be very proud of your elitist attitude.

My point is that everyone is having a rough time of it. I can't wait until September! Obama's jobs plan will save the United States!!!!! Does anyone wonder why it took him so long to even mention a plan? And why the wait now?

Shrek and Unclesmoothie,hush up and go back to work. I'll have a big mac and an order of fries please.

It's a god awful shame the teachers are the only ones facing tough times.......

Yea, lets keep hop[ing we can take more from our teachers. Maybe GM will see this and come back in full force to janseville too. Maybe the toothfairy and the easterbunny will make babies. Get real. Stop spending money for the signs and the improvements that aren't needed.

callsit. . . teachers get bashed for expecting a decent wage that reflects their training and expertise. Salary schedules did not reflect the boom of the 90's, instead, SDJ built their Fund 10. Then, they cut back on tax levies out of concern for the local economy. Unfortunately, they ignored the long-range impact which was to increasingly reduce the revenues under our state's very complex funding formula.

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Most the teachers who work in the SDJ also live here and pay property taxes just like you. They did when the district levied to the limit and the economy was good, without enjoying significant salary increases (in fact they lost benefits for credit reimbursement, increased co-pays, etc.) Talk about a slap in the face.

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When the current CBA is done, teachers will have nothing to bargain. The word "bargain" means: an agreement between parties settling what EACH party gives or receives in a transaction between them. .. .

So, in the estimation of some of the bloggers, even though there will be nothing left for the public employees to bargain -- they may "bargain" for salary increases capped at CPI (with what do they bargain? since their rights to collective bargaining were removed. . ) after June 2013 --- they should go ahead and make financial concessions now.

Families need time to prepare or the economy of the community will be further eroded if salaries are cut. It makes no sense to add to the downward spiral, just because some of you are envious that the CBA provides salaries and benefits--to which the board agreed. And as a reminder -- the district refused to even discuss many small language changes that would have cost nothing. Teachers in this district have been slapped in the face by the board and by this community daily, whether in or out of negotiations.

that last post is for "worried citizen" as well as shrek

shrek, you are SOOO uninformed. All the cuts have affected the teachers -- more students per class, jobs redefined to add additional responsibilities, loss of classroom support for students, loss of support in the library and technology; please quit your bashing.

~~~

What type of job do you have? Did it require a minimum of 4.5 years of college to attain? Are you ok with financially supporting industries who have not seen a red line once -- from before Sept. 2001? Are you ok that WI has some of the most expensive health care in the nation? People who know how to work the system are laughing at you all the way to their offshore banks. . .

I love it, teachers are suddenly rich! What a joke!

Enough other cuts have been made, it is time for the teachers to step up. This is about the education of our kids, not whether a teacher can afford a new car, boat or whatever this year.

There are other cuts that can and should be made that don't involve cuts in teacher benefits.

The children need my money, not the teachers. Why is it that teachers wont do as good of job if they have to pay a small portion of their benefit cost? If this is a teachers attitude, I dont want them in anyway.
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The taxpayers have been fully funding the benefits for a long time, it is time for the teachers to step up and do what is right in order to keep education at a high level.

My option if I want a raise is to ask for it and if I don't get it I can quit or accept it. My boss doesn't put anything towards my health insurance or pension. I work 52 weeks a year. I have no pension because I have to pay for all my own health insurance. And I haven't had a raise in over 4 years but I love my job. I also love Scott Walker for what he is trying to do for this state. If you don't like it, move.

Teachers don't want to hear about the pay cuts, double digit health insurance increases, loss of overtime and higher taxes of the average working Joe. I am not bashing them, but everyone has taken a hit in the last few years and additional property tax increases are another slap in the face.

It sucks that some people think it's only teachers who are doing the ol' ankle grab. Seriously, are they the only ones being asked to make concessions to keep their jobs? Hardly.

In this instance, Commissioner Sodemann speaks of courtesy and talking with the union first before the public. Did Commissioner Sodemann and Rep. Knilans extend this courtesy to the union before creating the memorandum? Wouldn't it be courteous of them to first consult workers directly impacted by the Knilans-Sodemann budget amendment before creating it?
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Hmmm....maybe it is this type of discourteous behavior that creates the need for union rights and protections.

Wow! With the exception of Shrek, all posts to this point are RIGHT ON! It looks like Janesville is beginning to use some common sense. Way to go everyone...Shrek excluded of course.

State law requires 180 days of instruction. Furloughs are somewhat complicated, although some have figured out how to do that, such as teacher work days are not paid. . . . However, when the unions offered to make financial concessions in Madison in exchange for keeping collective bargaining rights, the GOP rejected the offer. Now, they will lose collective bargaining rights as of June 2013, but some people want teachers to graciously sacrifice their own personal budgets-- teachers have kids, student loans, mortgages, etc. just like everyone else.
~~~~~~~

In the 1960's bargaining brought the benefit of the full retirement being paid by the SDJ in exchange for wages. Guess 5 decades of reduced salary schedules was enough. I hear that Arne Duncan recommended starting salary for teachers at $60K. Maybe if they were being paid professional wages, the contribution to retirement would be more reasonable.
~~~~~~~~~~

What magic will occur when more homes go into foreclosure because another 800 employees in this area lose wages? Will those of you who consistently complain about teachers suddenly appreciate them? Put it in writing.

If the JSD can't afford its teachers furlough is the best answer. That way, the profession is not degraded. We can go to a 4 day week or extend the breaks.

"School officials have said that the possibilities include concessions on salaries, furloughs, pensions and health insurance." --------------- What? No blood? You guys are slipping and becoming more gracious. These aren't the brass-knuckle tools handed you. At least take their first-born hostage.

Bill, will you and the Board please just go ahead and raise the taxes to the level allowed to save our district? My God, what are you waiting for? You need the money either way with the way this district has been financially mismanaged by the Board in the last decade. Care about the schools a little bit instead of saving glorious face in front of the taxes payer. Please!

Shrek, that's a very ignorant statement. I guess if you choose not to volutarily request for a raise in taxes, you don't care about your community, since it obviously needs your money.
And this Governor is the worst I've seen in all of my years.

Teachers that care more about themselves than they do about education and a governor that is doing the right thing.

“It’s going to be a four-year contract, which means more years without having to battle between administrators and school board and teachers,” said Marshall Middle School teacher Dan Emerson. “It means more time being cooperative, and we can get down to the business of educating children and less time on politics.” 9/2010

So much for that wishful thinking! Poor money management and a worthless governor.