And thanks for your answers.

rocksolid: Q2/A2: Yes, administrators are on the same insurance plan as teachers. However, since the inception of the additional premium in our previous contract, teachers are the only group to have actually paid the additional premiums. Not only did the custodians "catch a break", but administrators have received an additional check for the amount of the premium deducted from their paychecks. Angel has referred to this not as a rebate, but as a "premium adjustment". Any way you look at it, the teachers' group is the only group that had been paying the additional insurance premiums. Just like the QEO and now the BRB, so many teachers feel resentment for being singled out.

Fear.. Why don't you simply state your positions and opinions instead of your snide and disrespectful comments and attitude when someone tries to answer your questions in a forthright and honest way? You sound like a whining spoiled child with some of your comments. People might take you more seriously.

"Teachers Make a Difference! Join Our Team!

The Janesville School District offers a strong commitment to student
achievement and learning, staff development opportunities, small class
sizes, technology in every classroom, new teacher orientation and
mentorships programs, as well as a competitive wage and benefit program."

This is the employer profile that the prospective teachers will see when applying for the 20+ positions that are/were open in this district. If it is on the internet it must be true!

"concession" is not in the union vocabulary.

caddyshack243: I think I may be wrong about all directors receiving the same pay. That practice gradually changed with the new admin. I do believe that at least one of our newer directors does receive less and a couple received a small bonus based upon performance. I will try to get more info on this for you. You of course are free to stop in the ESC anytime you wish and ask for information.

Final word on the QEO. Your statements certainly gave the impression that teachers salaries/benefit increases were limited to 3.8%. That would only be true if the QEO would have been invoked - which it NEVER was in Janesville.

Thanks - Bill

caddyshack243: Brief answers are difficult, but I will do my best.

Q1 - Salaries of "rookie" administrators equal to the experienced ones they replaced. A1 - Principles are paid based upon a salary schedule that involves what level they are at (Elementary, Middle or High School and years of experience (4 categories). I believe that the directors are all paid the same as long as they have their PHD.

Q2 - Insurance Premium Adjustments. A2 - Not sure what you mean as administrators are on the same plan as the teachers. I do not know of any "rebates" given to any administrator. The custodians did "catch a break" during the previous contract because their wording involved how much the district would pay and since the cost did not go up in that year, they were able to avoid the $43.00 (approx) premium share. That has been corrected in this contract.

Q3 - District Paying for PHD's for Administrators. A3 - This is true, however we do not give pay raises for getting that additional education like we do for the teachers. Exceptions would be for things like Q1 where a directors pay may be different if they have their PHD, but most would already have it. I grant you that although most administrators do not receive pay increases for getting their PHD, it does make them more marketable for future promotions etc. By the way, some changes are being considered. Teachers have to pay for their own additional education but they receive raises every time they add 6 credits. If a teacher eventually becomes an administrator (principal etc.), by that time they often already have their PHD.

Q4- How many administrators still getting retirement bonuses? A4 - I believe you are referring to the stipends that are/were being paid. I agree with you on this. This board ended that practice a few years ago but anyone who was hired before then had that in their contract. I think about 8 people are currently receiving a stipend. My understanding was that this practice started decades ago when finding administrators was difficult. Again, we stopped this for all new hires.

FWIW - I tried to push for a pay freeze for our administrators and when that did not pass, I tried to lower the increase to 1% (much less than the teachers received). I did not do this because I dislike them in anyway - but because of economics. It should be noted that all nonrepresented staff - including all administrators are now contributing to their WRS (5.8%).

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Bill Sodemann

rocksolid: I am still waiting for your answers. As you have stated: "All records, including insurance, are always available and open to anyone." I am a taxpayer and I would like to have the answers. JSD boasts transparency, so please open up and share the answers to my 4 questions. Thank you.

Having watched several school board meetings, I'm not sure many involved know what is going on half the time. It might help to "do your homework" before you broadcast live!

Caddy, I wouldn't expect a true answer from RockSolid anytime soon, but good luck.

And many taxpayers also.

Will be checking back for Bills answers to those very well stated questions. Excellent caddy! Obviously you echo the sentiment of MOST of the 800+ teachers in Janesville.

rocksolid: Again, if the JSD is so financially broke, then: 1: Why does this district continue to hire rookie administrators at salaries equal to or higher than the experienced administrator they replace? 2: Why were administrators, custodians and secretaries given “insurance premium adjustments”, meaning they received rebates on insurance premiums, for so many years while teachers were given no such "adjustments"? 3: Why does the district still pay for Ph.D.s for administrators? 4: Last one: How many administrators does the district still owe the $100,000 retirement bonuses?

Excuse me: "As for negotiations..."

rocksolid: Did I not say that school boards had the option to offer more than 3.8%? As per negotiations, perhaps YOU were told wrong about the "supposed pay freeze" by your team. Funny how I heard it from several of our negotiators. I guess they must all be liars. Oh, well, moot point. I will say "you win" just to hear your answers to my other 3 questions. What do you say?

caddyshack243: Still Wrong! If QEO capped total compensation at 3.8% then how is it possible that in most years, the total package exceeded 3.8%? QEO calculations (by law) included step movement (years of service) but not lane movement (additional education etc.). Whether or not a QEO was invoked has no bearing on what records are available. All records, including insurance, are always available and open to anyone.

You have been told wrong about the "supposed pay freeze" just like you have been told wrong about access to documents or what the QEO really was. My teachers always encouraged me to find out for myself various things and not just rely on what I am told by others. As a teacher, you should do the same.

I will be glad to address other questions when you are able to acknowledge the truth about previous ones.

Sincerely,
Bill Sodemann

"""unclesmoothie
Jul 1, 2011 at 10:54 a.m.
Suggest removal "You can employ people and balance the budget. But they have to be a partner to do it. I cannot do it without them. If they don't agree to it, then 625 people and their families will lose that job." - DEMOCRATIC Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel on forcing city union employees on giving up holiday and sick pay. Sounds suspiciously like the same thing Walker did."""
.
You then ask about protesters...
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What you fail to recognize is what is happening in Chicago is truly about a BUDGET..what happened in WI was about destroying a union!
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Are Chicago employees being stripped of their ability to collectively bargain? NO
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Teachers were/ARE more than willing to sacrifice financially but what caused the protests was the dictator type strip of employee rights by this Gov.
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When will people wake-up and see that?

Rocksolid: The QEO law capped total compensation at 3.8%. I mistakenly said “frozen”. Yes, school boards had the option to offer more or less than 3.8%, but lower offers were then subject to arbitration hearings. The JSD has always added the “step and lane movement” to inflate the percentages. It has long been believed that JSD wanted no part of arbitration because then the district would be required to show their financial statements. These financial statements would have shown how the district was profiting from the self-funded insurance program. As the 3M manager stated, “…this has been a gold mine for the district for years.” I would wager that, if this contract is in fact greater than QEO dollars, then it would be due to the 4-year length of the contract. It all adds up to a classic case of JEA having no trust towards the JSB.
As far as a pay freeze goes, what I have been told is that JEA was asked repeatedly what it would take to get JEA to take a 0% raise/freeze. JEA responded that JSD should accept all of the suggested terms of contract language and JEA would accept the 0%. JSD refused to accept the contract language. So that is how negotiations continued.
Here is a question for you: Since you claim the JSD is broke and teachers need to pay WRS, why does this district continue to hire new administrators at salaries higher than the administrator they replace? Another question is why administrators had been given “insurance premium adjustments”, meaning they received rebates on insurance premiums, for so many years while teachers paid premiums. Another question is why does the district still pay for Ph.D.s for administrators?
Your campaign promises were always to keep taxes and teacher wages in check. At the same time, administrator salaries are climbing disproportionately. You have been elected because you have promised to save taxpayers money, not because you promised to improve the quality of education in Janesville. Your efforts to minimize taxes years ago when Janesville was healthy has now seemingly come back to haunt us.

caddyshack243: No, you are wrong on this one. QEO law stated that districts could invoke a QEO (Janesville never did) as long as the offer was at least 3.8% (salary and benefits - not counting lane movement). I will be glad to show you that most of the settlements were greater than 3.8%.

The current contract was signed after QEO was abolished by Gov. Doyle but it did exceed 3.8%. Again, I will be glad to prove it to you. I even had Angel cost out the settlement using QEO methods and presented those numbers back when we were debating/voting on this.

Your claim that JEA would have accepted a pay freeze is empty as that was never offered by them. I am curious, with all of the contract language changes that were given, what else did you possibly want?

What I have stated on WCLO and other places is because of the binding arbitration laws that were in place, proposals such as a "pay freeze" would not have gone through because under the old law, even things like "local economic conditions" were not to be considered to be a primary factor to the arbitrator. That is why even though Janesville has high unemployment etc., it would not have had much of an effect on an arbitrators decision.

If you provide me your email address, I will gladly send you the info when I get back in my office next Tuesday.

I will not reveal your identity.

Sincerely,
Bill Sodemann

Rock: The QEO law was a MAXIMUM of 3.8% increase total compensation in salary and benefits. The current contract, signed in the fall of 2010, was settled for LESS THAN QEO dollars. YOU admitted on WCLO that the school board would probably have lost in arbitration and would have had to come up more dollars for salaries. That is why the school board agreed to the contract. Remember that the JEA accepted a pay freeze for 2009-2010, and was willing to accept further pay freezes if the school board would have agreed to more of the contract language changes that the JEA was requesting.

Why would anyone want to run for anything in this town of barbaric knuckleheads. One thing I will say about some that I cant stand on this board, you must really love the spotlight(Sodemann,Schulte) I certainly wouldnt want that type of attention.
Donna- I dont have all the answers, I do however like you have my opinions that I am certainly entitled to. Your contention that I should run for school board because I am critical of the current one is silly. Its kinda like the "love it or leave it" mentality that some have about America. I thought we are all free to have our own opinions? Just because I dont buy the line that they throw at me, I should run or shatap? Sorry, but I know too many families in town that are personally affected by these idealogues, and I will NOT idly sit by and say nothing. I can care and be critical without running for office.
I just wish that if guys like Bill wanted the spotlight soi badly he should run for a political office. Why be on the school board if all you have is some personal vendetta against teachers salaries and benefits? Dont think he does, look in the Gazette archives, almost every article Sodemann is mentioned in he has some comment about teachers pay/benefits being too high. I take issue with that. I also have MAJOR problems with him and our superintendant marching down to the Gazette and/or local TV stations over and over to ask the teachers to give back salry and benefits. After the way their profession is under attack in this town and many others by conservatives that dont value a quality system , why would they?
I just ask them both, how many times must you be told NO by the JEA before you get it? We all know that you two will certainly try to wring them dry during the next contract when you have more leverage.

Fear and some of you others...you really need to run for the school board as you seem to have all the answers.

Why would the union give concessions? The teachers can opt to donate to WRS and health insurance if they want. And from what I read, it doesn't seem that many want to. So keep bringing it up in the papers and at board meetings so you can continue to make the teachers look bad.

batman, what the heck are you blogging about. You sound about as smart as Walker, IMO.

I'm actually glad Walker did what he did with the Unions, because it brings a new light on Union Workers I hadn't noticed existed. The Collective Bargaining Rights Clause was bad for taxpayers. It gave Unions, & their workers one up on everyone else involved in the negotiations of their contracts. I'm glad its over, & so are Millions of other American's.
What we see happening here is a kind of Addiction Withdraw from self-centeredness. I did see the teachers crying over 40 more minutes a day & it was sickening.

....and Sodemann and Schulte are along for the ride. Being that they are both certainly bringing partisan ideologies to the table. Whether or not they say it , it is VERY obvious that seems to be prevalent here.
Hard to say were broke when our overinflated "projected" defecit is less than 5% of the total budget!

Agreed.

They had the union busting bill rammed down their throats....why should they open their contracts now to "help". Once the contract is up, they'll lose everything anyways. Nobody was willing to work together before, so why should they pony up now before they actually have to? Doesn't matter if opening up the contracts just to implement the health insurance & pension aspect now (sooner rather than later). Walker's goal was to bust unions all along and he used the budget as an excuse to do it.

We can debate all day about class sizes, the numbers, health insurance and pension costs till we're blue in the face. But none of it matters when leaders at the very top won't do the same and instead say "there's nothing to negotiate, nothing to compromise - the state is broke." That statement from Walker set the tone for everyone else - only he can undo it.

Thanks Factsplease.

Sorry Marge, I was just trying to clarify something that is often mis-represented. Nothing against your comment. As for the smaller class sizes, that's doubtful since that decision was made by the board early in the process. I think it was said that those 50 would not be brought back no matter what happened, even if the teacher re-opened their contracts (not sure, but that's my understanding).

Plenty of great teachers were called back, but chose to take jobs in other districts. What does that tell ya? I wouldn't be suprised to hear that the district will need to hire some new teachers because so many have decided to not come back. IMO, this is just what some on our board would love to have. Higher paid teachers leave and new college grads get hired for less.

Mr. Frank Schultz, isn't your wife a teacher? Do you write these headlines or does your boss make you put these on there? How many teacher bashing/blaming articles or headlines are you going to write. The references to teachers not opening their contract and giving money to the district is getting really old. The Gazette's support for Knilans, Sodemann, and other radical's IMO, is a slap in the face for educators in this community. I find it hard to believe that you actually write this stuff and are able to go home at night. Just my opinion.

Rep. Knilans states it would be irresponsible to ignore his measure, but I dissagree. Rep. Knilans was irresponsible with his "yes" vote on the budget-repair bill. How can he continue to claim that his "yes" vote was "for the children" of our state, when it clearly wasn't?

Factsplease, I was simply asking a question and not trying to be snarky. So if they open the contract will they get smaller class sizes? Real question.

And yes Bill please address the Fund 10 balance and how that was built and the last few years that the teachers took much less than 3% raise, I don't hear you stating that!! And just admit you can't ask the teachers to pay for their health care because you would have to divide up that money each year to them!

Bill - so you are telling me that the layoffs were due to money and not a decline in enrollment? Yes all teachers were called back due to the fact that a lot of people chose to leave this district when they are treated the way that they are from you and the rest of the board!! So as of now, no teachers that were in district are laid off!!

BTW- Bill, one of your fellow board members and I have had discussions on several issues on these boards and he certainly thinks I have some VERY valid points, and not nearly as "erroneous" as you do. Please help me with all of my erroneous claims, I am in desparate need of some counseling from someone that is in the "real world".
But only public responses , I have no interest in any other private messages from you.

The 50 cut due to "enrollment" also includes the increasing of class size limits. So it wasn't just because we have fewer students, but because they increased class sizes. Seems a bit misleading to only refer to those cuts as enrollment based. The research is clear that the smaller the class size, the better the outcomes for kids, especially in the elementary grades.

OOOO "Rocksolid" 34k as opposed to 29k? a difference of what 5,00 a year? My bad Bill, I dont have a salary schedule in front of me. Why dont you enlighten us as to the origin of the fund 10 balance and how it was built? You seem to always duck theat one, wonder why? i also find it fascinating how you are always willing to "negotiate" concessions with the teachers, and yet in all your years on the board you have never once talked about maybe paying the teachers a little more. You wonder why the JEA membership has issues with you? Your continued bantering in the press and begging for concessions on a negotiated contract are getting old.

I would bet a dime to a dollar that despite Knilans attempt to play politics into the contract all of you,sculte, and Knilans efforts will fail when it comes to opening the contract. How many different times can you be told no? Dave Parr knows well and good that the JEA will NOT open their contract, and why should they? Would you living in the "real World" open a contract signed with phones plus, based on a customer saying they didnt have the money to pay? I am guessing you would not, maybe I am wrong, please once again enlighten me to all of my erroneous claims.
BTW , please no more private messages from you , as I have really no interest in anything you might have to say privately. You can take shots at me all you like, fortunately from you a shot means little as I really have no respect for you or your conduct on the board. Most that are teachers in this district believe as I do that you have very little interest in the quality of education here in Janesville, and are on the board to control cost only, and infuse your political ideology. What I dont understand is if you want to be a politician why not just run for assembly/senate/or city council? Why do you continue to assault teachers pay and benefits? An assualt that most in the community noticed when your little opinion was printed in the newspaper, when the conomy was good. Why were teachers not rewarded more during the boom in the economy? Q E O, now that the economy is in the dumps we should now take more from them because the private sector has failed? You seem to want to cut teachers salaries/benefits no matter what the shape of economy.
So please Bill, address the fund 10 balance and my "erroneous" claims. How did we end up with this surplus of money? It is my understanding that money was built by overestimations in Health insurance cost for the teachers that was banked into a "balance" that the district uses to plug other holes in the budget. Yet you continue to ask them for more? Maybe if the district had just distributed that money that was budgeted for insurance back to the teachers , it would be a little easier for the teachers to understand the budget issues that the district faces. Unfortunately you and those who think like you hang on to that fund 10 money like it comes from your personal bank account.

The teachers vote in the "union leaders" how is that disgusting? Also is the net teacher layoffs 60--I thought I remember the board saying 50 positions are not needed because of enrollment--so only 10 (teaching) positions are really gone?

I haven't smoked anything in about 30 year--and it wasn't much back then.

I said the "greedy teachers' unions LEADERSHIP" not "teachers." (Attention to detail, please!) I know a lot of great teachers and feel it's a noble profession. Teachers' Union LEADERS, however, have a disproportionate amount of power and an inner circle of strident supporters that make any one (individual teacher) who might disagree, keep quiet.

It's frankly disgusting.

While I respect and understand differences of opinion there are many things stated in these blogs that are completely false:

milton17 continues to state that there were no layoffs and that there was no shortage. The 13.4 million dollar gap was reached by using fund balance of 3.4 million and 650K of TIF money. 7 million was done by cutting about 112 full time equivalent positions (about 83 of them being teachers). The rest was done through some fee increases, cuts in textbooks, other programs and maintenance etc. It is true that some layoffs were avoided due to retirements but about 60 teachers were laid off. Milton17's statement is blatantly false.

caddyshack243 stated that under the QEO, salary and benefit increases have been frozen at 3.8%. Not true. The MINIMUM was 3.8%. In most of the years the total package was more.

As to "fearandrhetoric...", it would be a full time job just to correct all of his erroneous claims. Lately he stated that starting teachers make less than 30K per year. Not true. In 2011, the lowest amount for a full time teacher, not including any benefits or extra-curriculars etc. is more than 34K per year. He also often stated that insurance surpluses are the reason for the fund balance. While it is true that we had a couple of fortunate years a few years ago, most of the time it is near budget and when you add up the surpluses and deficits over a number of years they pretty much equal out. It should also be noted that the amount that was set for premiums has been less than what was recommended by the insurance consultants.

I will be happy to provide the documentation to verify my statements to anyone who wishes but I will not be able to be active in the blogs.

Sincerely,
Bill Sodemann

All this concern about teachers losing their jobs and the kids' education, but the teachers STILL get $100k+ in retirement health benefits that come straight out of instructional budgets. Shameless.

I believe the interstate project is already paid for by Obama's shovel ready stimulus money. Right?

Come on teachers. The governor has to make good on the I39/90 interstate expansion for his road building campaign contributors. Where do think the money has to come from? You've got to make concessions.

I don't expect anything positive to come from Parr and the teachers he represents. Hollow comments in an attempt to win the battle with Gov. Walker. He called their bluff and moved forward, now let's see how much Parr and his group supports the teachers that could be without a job. Betting nothing happens...any takers?

Why isn't that in the national spotlight? Where's all the protesters? Hmmmmmmm...... Food for thought people.

"You can employ people and balance the budget. But they have to be a partner to do it. I cannot do it without them. If they don't agree to it, then 625 people and their families will lose that job." - DEMOCRATIC Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel on forcing city union employees on giving up holiday and sick pay. Sounds suspiciously like the same thing Walker did.

Question to die hard teacher's union supporters: Why do a disproportiane number of teachers and other unionized public employees drive non union vehicles? Well over 50% of the cars driving around with "Recall Walker" stickers are non union vehicles from foreign owned companies.

I think those that keep singing to recall song will be surprised at the lack of support to make that happen.

unclesmoothie - Exactly!! But that's not what this article is about. MY point is paying teachers or anyone a 2% a year raise NEVER breaks the bank. Decades of this will not create Greece. Pet projects, bailouts, and tax breaks for no good reason creates Greece.

Noexcuse... what will make us like Greece is the Politicians in Washington continuing to dump truck loads of money on inane and frivolous pet projects.

"The teachers aren't meeting during the summer because it would be far too difficult to get a majority of teachers to attend since they may be out of town."

Ok, that makes sense, wait.........what happened to all those posts about teachers working year round, all the hard work they were required to put in during the summer months, etc. Simple fact is, take whatever a teacher makes and multiply it by 1.33 to get what someone in the private sector would have to make to be on equal footing given days worked. That's before the package gets considered. Name another "profesional" group that can't pull enough members over a three month period to discuss issues that they themselves have labeled "life and death"?

There is no way teachers can be out of town. I have been told numerous times on this board that teachers have to work all summer in order to survive.

The teachers aren't meeting during the summer because it would be far too difficult to get a majority of teachers to attend since they may be out of town. In late August, everyone will back and a vote can be taken up then. Quick math says 90 days from June 28 puts us in late September, more than enough time for teachers to discuss and vote.

ifiruledtheworld - Greedy teacher unions??What the hell are you smoking? 2% a year for 4 years is greedy? In 2000, Wisconsin ranked 11th in teacher pay. Now we rank in the mid 20's. This is what gets us into debt like GREECE? Try a dose of reality before you write this stuff.

billnewbie
Jul 1, 2011 at 9:04 a.m.
Suggest removal Rep. Knilian's adopted measure removes the excuse the union had to renege on their pledge to help school districts meet their budgets with a minimum of layoffs.
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If you sir are honest with your self, you will realize how much of a lie your above comment is.
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The teacher's said allow us to keep our collective bargaining rights and you can take our money. The governor refused, REFUSED to allow teacher's to keep their rights yet you claim they are the one's not keeping their promise.
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This was NEVER about the MONEY! Not for the teachers, not for the Gover...this is about breaking unions for the 2012 election. Unions give largely to democrats and if unions are gone the democrats will have a more difficult time raising money. With the supreme court decision regarding contributions, unions weakened the republicans have a large fundraising advantage.
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That is what this is about. It was always about politics. The Koch brother's bought and paid for this because it is a worthwhile investment. It isn't just WI, Ohio, etc... are doing the same thing.
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Not about the money...it is about bought and paid for politics. The CORPORATISTS HAVE TAKE OVER!

concessions? So they are putting up food/drink stands?

Rep. Knilian's adopted measure removes the excuse the union had to renege on their pledge to help school districts meet their budgets with a minimum of layoffs. So now Mr. Parr's position is clear. It really is about the money and it's not about the kids after all. The union, under Mr. Parr's direction, doesn't even want to discuss it this summer. Why? Because the budget will be done by then so he'll be able to say they don't need his union's concessions to balance the budget. While Mr. Parr rationalizes that the district hasn't promised to hire back more teachers if the union makes concessions, he conveniently forgets how his union promised to help way back last winter. At least Rep. Knilian's measure and the union's subsequent unwillingness to re-open negotiations exposes the union for what it really is for all to see.

The teachers are always complaining that with their education the are underpaid and could easily earn more in the private sector. I would invite those who are of that mentality to quit teaching and go into the private workforce. You will pay a lot more for health ins and retirement funds if they have one. Most employers will only contribute to matching 401K plans. You will also find yourself working 40 plus hrs a week for a full year with 3 weeks vacation if you are lucky. You more than likely will still earn around 60K a year, if lucky .Yes you did receive 3.8% in the QEO for the 16 plus years that was in effect. (wages and bennies) So you saw a 61% increase in money, QYB.

Without a response its time to cut classes and send out layoff notices. Start the slashing. Its time to do whatever is required to balance the budget. Delaying the actions will only make it worse.

I wonder if the teachers are willing to stand up and tell the students that some of the classes they wanted to take were eliminated because their fellow teachers were unwilling to negotiate and concede -- pay for a portion of their benefits. Nope -- they will try to blame others.

916 - again there are no jobs to save, what don't you understand about that??? Everyone was called back, so keep spewing your lies and hatred.

Doc - not every teacher called in on those days, so stop generalizing - if it wasn't for the cost of medical care and the scam by the health care, many districts wouldn't be in this mess. Because of the way Janesville does the health care, teachers would not be asked to pay in at this point anyhow because of how much money they make from them that goes into the Fund 10 balance; or they would have to divide that money up every year amongst the teachers instead of hoarding it and not using it in emergencies.
So please folks educate yourselves on facts before you keep spewing your hatred and generalizing things to all teachers; there are bad eggs in every profession. And Janesville lost a lot of fantastic teachers that went to other districts because of the way they are treated around here!!

Doc, you and many others fail to acknowledge that teachers offered to pay IF the Governor would leave their collective bargaining alone. When he reverses the bill, the teachers will keep that promise. Otherwise, forget it.
916 - many teachers have already given to "Save Janesville Schools". i gave $1,000. how much have you given?

@i-luv-jvl....your comment, "wait... what's in it for the teachers if the governor refused the offer?" has an easy answer. "What's in it for them" is that they have an opportunity to save the jobs of their co-workers. Either way, it's a decision that is theirs alone to make.........Life will go on regardless of the outcome........

It seems that so many of you have forgotten that former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson created a law in 1993 called the Qualified Economic Offer. The QEO froze teacher salary and benefit package raises at a total of 3.8% annually even in times when "private sector" workers saw much greater raises. This kept Wisconsin's teacher salaries in the lower half nationwide. How long did we hear people telling us that it was our problem that we chose such a low-paying career. Now these low-paying teacher salaries have suddenly caused our state and local finances to collapse???

If the right wingers are out to kill the union, then why doesn't Mr Parr just say he's not going to go along with slitting the throats of the teachers? Why not just say no? Why all this dancing around?

DKS, Well I guess that's one way to spin it, saying that the teachers will vote it down because of the way they are perceived to the rest of the public. It's not teacher bashing, it's just saying it how it is.
This is not something new, they knew this was being worked on and that this law would go into effect, so they had plenty of time to be prepared to go through with this, if that's at all what they intended to do and right now it looks like they were all talk when it comes to contributing and helping make up the shortfall in this years budget.
That DKS, is not teacher bashing at all, as a matter of fact I like teachers and have respect for them choosing a carrier in helping to shape and mold the future of our state by educating our children, but what kind of example have they been setting since this started? Skipped out on work to go and protest causing schools to be closed around the state, and now that they have a chance to do what they claimed they would do if they didn't have to worry about losing everything that their union had negotiated for them, and now that they can they are going to just drag their feet and not help fellow teachers keep their jobs next school year, how can they even look at themselves in the mirror knowing they could help, but yet do nothing about it now that the worry has been eliminated for them.
Have a great summer off teachers, and I hope you can still look at your fellow teachers that will be unemployed, and call them friend.

MadeinUSA you said ;"Hang in there Janesville teachers-only a few months before the Knilans recall and we can repeal this bill for you. Solidarity!!"
Why in the world would the teachers want a bill that protects them repealed?

Would you care to explain such an idiotic quote?

This takes away the, (so called) fears the teachers had of opening the contracts to modify the insurance and pension parts, that they claimed they would do except they were afraid they would lose other benefits by doing so. Well now all of that fear has been erased by Representative Joe Knilans, he did them a HUGE favor IF and that is a big if now, they want to go through with what they had previously claimed they would do, and make concessions, and if they didn't drag their feet all summer to do so, maybe some of the layoffs wouldn't be necessary for the upcoming school year, and not to mention, it would show a lot of character on their part, and would show that they weren't just hiding behind their unions, like those of us with any kind of common sense knows that is what they are again doing!
Just open it and make those concessions you claimed you would make, show you actually want to help and that you care about your fellow teachers that are looking at being jobless, if only you could open those contracts and not have to worry about losing anything else by doing so, Joe Knilans has made that possible for you because he does care about the people of his district and this state!
The ball is now in your court, show us your words mean something, so us you do care.....

KLC-- The problem was caused by greedy teachers' unions leadership and wimpy school boards and superintendents OVER MANY, MANY YEARS. This problem could have and should have been seen coming years ago. Folks should have acted back THEN. This is a major adjustment. ---We're quickly going the way of Greece (I want! Gimme!) and it ain't ging to be pretty.

The headline says "No Concessions YET from Janesville Teachers". If you read the article, it explains that the JEA does not meet in the summer - waiting until fall insures that all members will know about the meeting and be able to attend.

This is another example of the Gazette pitting the public against the teachers when the teachers have not even met to consider this. If it works, the teachers will be so sick of the bashing by the time they meet, they'll definately vote it down...

Let the recall begin and I will still vote for ............Joe Knilans. Recalls = A waste of taxpayer money

“Obviously we’d be delighted to talk,” Sodemann said. “We’re anxiously waiting. If they have any desire, we’re there.”
Why wouldn't they be? If the teachers cough up 6 mil that is 6 mil we can put in the fund 10 and still claim to be broke and not call back any teachers. According to the district the counseling services are still going to be complete so why the need to call any back? I thought Knillans and the republicans were about creating jobs not destroying them. The reason the district is in this position is because of the cuts to education supported by Knillans.

Knilans, Sodemann, and Walker are playing the JEA. This is not about saving jobs or taxpayers money. This is a larger story orchestrated by Republican/Tea Party think tanks. This is about union busting and diverting union dollars away from opponents to Tea Party agendas. This is about ushering in a era of Republican, single-party rule--like in China. The oligarchy rules without the union. Stand Strong!
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...maybe Knilans, Walker, and Sodemann are naive enough to think otherwise...this is even sadder. Our elected leaders being played by their own party. RECALLS coming!

The headline says it all "No concessions yet from Janesville teachers". Talk about being a hypocrite,where is all this solidarity being preached?
Just think if the JVL teachers made the concession and contributed to their health/pensions we would be able to keep our librarians and counselors.
Now the decision is up to you not the governor.

Look, the concessions are coming shortly in a few years if the bill doesn't fall with along with successes in the recall arena. Most (not all) have found greener pastures. There is reason for teachers to open up contracts at this time. Again, the budget issues were not born by the teachers, why is it they are required to solve it? Now, maybe if they were allowed to run for the Board....
Good luck JPS!

if i was still teaching, i'd say hell no.

There are no jobs to save, all were called back and they are actually hiring; so stop the teacher bashing and realize that the school board dupted everybody! There is no $13 million deficit, they are actually in the black. So please stop blaming the teachers and start looking at who is running the district and their lies!!

okay, so let me get this straight. the teachers said they would pay the requested portions of pension and health care, but the governor refused... yet they expect the teachers to still pay??? wait... what's in it for the teachers if the governor refused the offer?

It sounds like the door has been opened back up in order to give the union the opportunity to save the jobs of some of their members. It will be interesting to see if they make the concessions.........

the teachers' union said they would give in to the concessions, but the governor said no. so what are these talks about? has the governor not already closed those doors?

frogger - i think you need to explain more clearly.

Didn't see anyone on here crying but you crying about people crying. Hypocrite.

Did anybody see the Green Bays teachers in tear in court crying (YES CRYING)over having to work and extra 30 minutes a day to MAKE IT a 40 hour work week. It wil "ruin their lives".
Well my hubby works 70 hours in the summer and is salary as well. Don't see him crying . I see him happy to still have his job. 70 stinks and 50 in the winter but to cry over having to work 40 is just insane and you have most of June, July, and most of Aug off and holiday's and spring break and winter break and early out , shall I go on. You chose this profession. I respect you but I am really of the cry baby attitude. Lots of people have to pay their own benifits and pay to 401 k. No free rides anymore. YOU also get a pension that isn't offered to a lot of places anymore. STOP THE WHINNING PLEASE!!!!