pat
Mar 12, 2010 at 2:52 p.m.
Suggest removal Vigilandy,, teachers always have excuses when students don't succeed , some how it's never there fault. Baloney. Teachers can convince them selves of those excuse's but no one else. It's about time teacher's are held responsible for how their students do academically. Bring on the merit pay.
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Just an example. I witnessed an English teacher who taught an English Literature class be punished because too many HIGH SCHOOL students failed the course.

Now I ask you, who is to blame? I am sure everyone could have passed the class if the lit. was read to them or everything was open-book. The man had standards and when the students failed to reach those standards the teacher was punished.

Now, there are bad teachers but reality has shown me that there are also BAD STUDENTS. The difficulty with our education system is we have the goal to educate EVERY STUDENT. We rarely throw a student away. When trying to educate every student I believe overall excellence is sacrificed.

So the question is, do we throw away some 5-18 year olds so we rank higher in the world? OR, do we continue to do our best to work with every student and not give a rotten rats ... about our ranking in the world?

It is a difficult balancing act and it is what makes the teacher's in this country the best. In many other country's, students are gone, forgotten about and destine to fail for many reasons. Thankfully, we have a different philosophy.

BTW: I am not saying teachers are perfect, the system is perfect or all the faults are that of the student. Just saying that we do things differently and I believe better despite the "world rankings."

It is that they don't have time. You say you homeschool, multiply your child by 30 and see if you could give each one individualized attention. I'll bet you cannot. Picture the children now a days also. No respect for elders, no rules at home (carries over to school) and even weapon and drug access. You could not pay me enough to be a teacher. JMO

I have home schooled my child and she learned more in a month than she did in 5 months in the public school. We have over crowded schools and SOME teachers aren't passionate about teaching. Some have other part time jobs and aren't taking the time to prepare for classes so they take that time during school hours. I still have not had a teacher keep my child in at recess to complete or correct work. I have asked this of them so my child will learn not to hurry and do their best the first time. I guess asking the teachers to give a little of their off time teaching is asking too much. Or maybe.....the union won't allow them to give more of themselves.

,,,and did not hear you complaining when GM gave family discounts on cars.

RetiredGM.
You sound like the type who chased GM out of town.
I might as well say your the reason cars cost so much.

If you're not satisfied with Milton teachers, try homeschooling your kids. After all, you seem to know all of the problems and have all of the answers.

Then maybe you should fertilize your crop instead.

What will you all wine about if all good teachers decide Milton is no place to be. You are correct when you say teachers can be replaced, but remember how much a new teacher has put into their own eduction for the sake of the kids.
Maybe you just need licensed baby sitters and not qualified teachers.
I can really see people wanting to move to Milton in the future.... great baby sitting schools!

I wonder why certain districts have such a hard time reaching deals with their teachers and other districts you never hear about any contract disputes. Janesville, Milton, taking the dispute very public. But yet I was told districts like Evansville , Orfordville have never had issues coming to agreements. Different Unions? Seriously the Unions have to go. Look at the Union in Rhode Island, they did their teachers NO favors. Cost them their jobs. These teachers need to take a serious look at whom is representing them.

Why is it that if you are a union member or a government employee it is a given right to have more than the public sector (who by the way pays your salary and benefits). It is as if the employees get more benefits than the employer. This really needs to stop or our country will be bankrupt very soon.

And I'm not saying it is the employees fault....but that is just the way it is.

"Shouldn't people without jobs, who have lost benefits or taken cuts in pay hope that others do not follow their fate?"

That is true....BUT....it is the "people without jobs, who have lost benefits or taken cuts in pay" that are the EMPLOYERS of the teachers.

SO...since when...when the employer is losing money...does he reward the employee with a raise?....That's right....NEVER.

The only ones who can't seem to figure this out are the employees (teachers).

"If I don't get it, neither should they!" I've never seen so many people willing to jump into the race, DOWN the ladder of success.

One or two more things. What about discipline? Their (teachers) hands are tied. There are kids that mouth off, bring weapons and just disregard authority. What would you do if you were these teachers? Would you want to fork out more money in our economy for your own well being? Just ask yourself a few logical questions before you post on an article, please.

This whole post needs to be shut down. Really people, sit back and think. Where would you be today without an education? You certainly would not be typing this garbage! You wouldn't know how to spell the words. Think about the crap teachers put up with, with kids now a days! The majority are spoiled rotten brats! I worked in the school system about 10 years ago and I will tell you, teachers, aides, janitors and clerical are ALL underpaid. How would you like to work in a job that you have lock downs in case of gunmen/women or fire drills or tornado drills? What about lunch time? The kids are wild and crazy and at recess also. Think back to when you were a kid, did you behave everyday? Were you prim and proper? If you answered yes, you are dreaming. LAYOFF our teachers, they are forming our future generations along with parents, family and community.

There has to be give and take. Do the teachers take a cut in insurance benefits or do they allow a school to be closed and lose 5-6 teaching positions.

spark, I am absolutely not grouping all teachers together. There are some Excellent teachers both from my day, and teachers that are in the district now. Some very excellent. BUT it just takes those few 'bad' teachers to spoil it.

As I figured, JustAskMe. You don't have any statistics to support your claim that we our "supporting" too many teaches. Sorry that you feel that backing up your claims with facts is rocket science. Nice nickname you have, but sorry, I think I'll ask someone else.

poobah - things are simpler than you want them to be. You don't need research to know that, if you can't afford it, you don't get it. Stressed school budgets need to lower the number of employees (teachers). It's dollars and cents poobah - not rocket science.

Spark – There are SOME good teachers still teaching. I never said there wasn’t. Regardless, when good teachers sit by and do nothing to initiate change than they have become part of the problem. The public school system has become mired in bureaucracy and has forgotten what it is there for, to educate. By the way, not having a safe environment to learn in has been listed as one of the obstacles to learning (by teachers no less).

Many of the attitudes fall into the socialism category. Can't help it. Call it like I see it.

"stevev
Mar 12, 2010 at 7:29 a.m.
Suggest removal And how much could they save if they took away Superintendent Nikolai's district provided vehicle and stopped paying him mileage to drive to his job from his home in Cambridge?
If the car is the schools car he should not be paid mileage. You cannot be paid mileage to GET to work! If you are at work and need to go to a meeting or something in YOUR OWN car you can take mileage.

Spark, "farthest thing chump"
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curtaincall - Bullying, fighting, alcohol, drugs and sex were all exposed to kids in school, well before the year 2010. Everyone dealt with it. Some gave in, some learned from it. You said it best. It's the reality of it. That's unfortunate. But if the parenting is there, they will become stronger from making the right choices. Please don't group all teachers in one category because of a few bad apples.

Costs are rising for all of us. Welcome to life!
Be glad you have a plan at all.
Money is tighter than it used to be. You will have to budget just like the rest of us in these times.
At Least you can still count on your income being the same vs LOTS less and try to budget this!

I get angry when people like this complain. Many people don't have jobs at all be glad you have a job TOO!
It seems before teachers in Janesville didn't have to pay anything for coverage and then they had to and WHINE, WHINE, WHINE. I am sure it wasn't much you had to contribute!

The whining will not be taken well by those that don't have jobs so stop it!

Teachers have Pensions too. Do you know how many people have to work their whole lives . Yea , Yea we could have your job. Well no we cannot. We cannot all be teachers now can we.

packattack - And I responded that way for this reason. Just because I believe in our education system. I believe in our teachers, and I believe they deserve more for what they do, in no way shape or form means I had a silver spoon to eat from. That comment makes absolutely zero sense.

Spark NO kid should be confronted with the reality's of life the way they are in a public school, the drugs, the bullying, the fighting, the sex , the drinking. Most parents discuss these things with their kids at the correct age, unfortunately that age is becoming younger and younger, do to what they are exposed to in public schools. Hxx we have teachers having sex with students. How in the heck do you try to explain that to your kids, or protect them from it? Public schools are some what zoo like, teachers and students alike.

justsome1here - There's still plenty of good teachers out there. I will agree to disagree with you on that one.

packattack - It's called hard work and I had the farthest thing chump.

Spark – You state “No, the schools should be happy to have them.” Excuse me – but students do not go to school so that teachers can have jobs. They go to school to learn. Everyone, (teachers included) should be ashamed of the educational system in the United States. Everyone gripes (including teachers) but the ones you are in the position to make changes don’t. The public school system in the United States is failing the young people of this country.
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“You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world.” - Tom Brokaw

Spark, please come down off the pestedal. Not every one was born with a silver spoon to eat with.

Ya lets compare all teachers the same. God, some of you people obviously didn't receive an education. It's all making sense now.

curtaincall - That is life. Do you expect kids to simply live under a rock until they're 18? Please tell me you're not that naive. Would you rather they don't learn about the dangers, risks of some of lifes choices earlier? That is a parents job to teach them about those issues, not the teacher. Parenting!!!!!!! It amazes me how we all survived the same issues and turned out fine. It's simply lazy parenting.

http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/87461092....

check this out. This is the kind of teacher's we have out there.

Too many teachers over step there bounds. I have found teachers don't know where the line is for many. So really what your saying is teachers do more than what they should? No one asked them to. The teachers I see on a regular basis , two of them have kids who lead the under age drinking on the weekends, so I would not want these parents to parent anyone eles's kids until they figure their own out.

'learning to deal with issues.' Like bullying, drugs , alcohol, sex... no kids should have to deal with that during their school years. There are many social functions for kids who virtual school, and home school.. this is the year 2010. Many opportunities to socialize if they want to .

I wouldn't trade anything about my experience through school growing up. From elementary all the way through College. School teaches you how to interact with people. How to deal with complex situations when the real life hits you later on. Yes education is important, but so is learning how to deal with issues. I had a blast, learned a lot and I'm a better person today. You can have your virtual B.S. Too many parents expect teachers to parent their kids because they're lazy.

JustAskMe, I have no idea where you're getting your statistics from. But here's one place for you to start: http://inform.com/science-and-technology... This is a report from the Fed Letter that clearly indicates we are not at a high historical teacher student ratio and in fact the baby boomers retiring will cause an increase in the need for new teachers. The increase in new hires is not due to inceasing student population but retiring teacher populations. I'd like to see your statistics to back up your claim we are "supporting" too many teachers.

If I recall, I believe the teachers union in Milton changed their health care a year or two ago WITHOUT the school board forcing them to. They did this because it saved the district well over a hundred thousand dollars. Where were the headlines then and people high fiving the teachers union? People need to mellow out and realize that the teachers have offered to get paid the same as they were in the last contract, literally to keep everything the same. This is pure politics for the board to offer this out and pretty classless.

Schools turning out well rounded people? NOT. IT is the parents who form their children not the schools. We would all be in trouble if these kids were being formed by the likes of SOME of these so called teachers. .

JustAskMe - employers fire or layoff workers when the product they produce, fails itself. I hope like hell teachers are forever and what they produce, never fails. That being education. No such thing as too many teachers.

poobah - employers fire or layoff workers when they no longer need them to produce their product. But teachers are forever - so there are times like now when we support way too many teachers.

What I find amazing is how so many people who apparently have lost benefits, pay, jobs feel everyone else should also suffer along with them. Isn't this exactly the kind of in-fighting that business and industry loves? Shouldn't people without jobs, who have lost benefits or taken cuts in pay hope that others do not follow their fate? If you hope for everyone to get hit, few will ever recover. Demand better of yourselves and your employers and for your neighbors. Don't settle for everyone being beaten down.

Pat, so you think it is just the teacher's responsibility to turn out well rounded people? The virtual schools you think are so great turn out virtual people. Part of getting a public education is learning how to interact and work with other people, something that is evident you don't really have a knack for. Nobody is whining except for you.

pat - Again, so someone that has a job (let's not narrow it down to just teachers), should just be happy to have a job, yet should never push for more? Is that what you're saying? Because I hear that practically everyday. Even towards people that have been at companies for years and years. In other words, their hard work and commitment doesn't deserve more because those that don't have the same, don't approve. This country is not about what yours is mine, although that is the direction it's heading.

So sorry SPARK, to many other options out there. Better options, that cost the tax payer less. They should be glad to have their jobs. They need to be held accountable to keep there jobs.
They can bend or look for work else where. I will say it again, and again. Many, many experienced or new teacher's who would love to have a job .

pat - You are the prime example of what I was talking about below. The "they should be glad to have jobs, they have better benefits than most" crowd. Or should I say the "socialist" crowd. That is the mentality that is burying this Country. No, the schools should be happy to have them. Period. What I find worse is all the people sitting around with the "poor me pity" attitude. Poor me, everyone else should suffer. If you're happy where you're at in life and don't believe in fighting for what you think you're worth, that's your choice. An extremely poor one at that.

I'm not sure what all the gibberish below this post is but; If they can drive to the district to work, the sure can drive to a doctor within the network (just MO/$.02).

Vigilandy,, teachers always have excuses when students don't succeed , some how it's never there fault. Baloney. Teachers can convince them selves of those excuse's but no one else. It's about time teacher's are held responsible for how their students do academically. Bring on the merit pay.

Vigilandy,, good please stay away. What these teacher's seem to be forgetting there are many options out there , besides brick and mortar schools. Many students are using these options, because brick and mortar can not compete with the virtual schools. They should be glad to have jobs, they have better benefits than most. They need to stop the whining. The district needs to take a hard stand, and say don't like it leave. Many unemployed teachers who would love your job.

Pat, if I were a new teacher, that HS would be the last place I'd apply. Who would want to work for a district that places no value on their employees? That school district should be ashamed. Their schools are a reflection of the leadership they provide them. A teacher has only so much influence on how much a student learns. Consider the parental involvement, homlessness, poverty, abuse of all kinds, peer pressure, and gangs. Not to mention a multitude of things kids would rather be doing besides learning like video games, TV, internet, music, texting, and the list goes on and on. I should have included books on that list, right? Maybe the government should bail that school out like they did for the banks? Never happen, but I think that says something about what we value most. . .

Stubby- Didn't you know it's the teachers job to parent the kids too. (thick sarcasm)

Great idea, Pat! It takes no special skill to teach kids, you know. [/sarcasm]

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To siteadmin - why remove my post? Stating that the person was a HS dropout was a fact they stated themselves in the previous post. Not a personal attack like their reply.

maybe Milton should do, what the Rhode Island school did fire all teachers, when no agreement can be made. Plenty of good teachers who want to work, and are happy to have a job. Get rid of the union.

Word!

I can't believe how many socialist attitudes there are anymore. Put down the Obama Kool-aid. Hearing things like "nobody else has it, they shouldn't either". Or, "be happy you have a job". You ever heard of hard work and earning what you have? If you think teachers are spoiled and overpaid, you need your frickin head examined. And no, I'm not a teacher. It makes me sick to here people in America speak like this. Just because times are tough for some doesn't mean you have the right to wish it on others. That's not how life works. That's called jealousy. Your situation and others situation are two different things. I'm sorry some of you got screwed by the auto industry because guess what? They're the ones that screwed you. Nobody else. I also recall many in that industry taking it personally when others made comments about unions and being overpaid. How ironic.

I know teachers put in many hours and not get paid for it, would the factory worker do it or hospital worker, no we punch in and out. They should not have to take cuts.

Listen I spent 12 years working in a school system and believe me when I tell you I am not assuming to know anything I know for a fact what goes on in the classroom. I seen it first hand and heard from many teachers how they are happy if the kids just turn in homework and behave. I am just sick and tired of hearing how they are the next best thing to God. A person can go out and buy books and do what they are doing. Likje I said in an earlier post take a look a Kansas City is this what our teachers want to happen here. I'm sure there where some mighty fine educators there. But in order for this to work and keep working then both sides have to be willing to give. Sure all the name calling and rude remarks dont do anything except stir the pot but what else are these blogs for. Because judging by some of the responses these site are good for little except to do just that.

"The authority of those who teach is often an obstacle to those who want to learn." - Cicero
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Students do not fail school. The schools fail the student.

Again, the only ones getting "thrown under the bus" are the teachers. (Not by other teachers, either.)
cardtrader, unless you have spent a good deal of time in a classroom (which you have made obvious that was not the case), do not assume to know what happens in one. I know many teachers that work their hearts out to care and teach their students under unsatisfactory conditions. Make no mistake, they are there to help students become good citizens, not just achieve good grades. They do their part, the rest is up to the students and parents.

OK, getting past the bickering and the ignorance of the “babysit” comment.

I get that people are struggling and from the outside it is easy to see these teachers as being greedy and uncaring toward us, the taxpaying public.

The thing to remember is the teacher/union perspective is they have to look out for themselves, their families and THEIR STUDENTS. I have a friend who is a union president and I asked him why unions wouldn’t take a pay-freeze in order to avoid lay-offs. He said the problem is, they take a pay freeze one year and the layoffs happen a year later. What was really gained?

When the budget is tight it is difficult on everyone. Every teacher I know is thankful for their job…don’t fool yourselves.

Lastly, to the person who suggested anyone can baby-sit. If you knew teaching was such a cake job and teachers make SO much MONEY, get SO much time OFF…then if you are so smart…Why aren’t you a teacher?

Now I get it, you coudn't even get through high school so your anger of teachers getting anything is jealousy. Your teachers didn't fail you, you failed you. You didn't care enough about your future to get your work done. Now, you blame someone else proving you still haven't grown up.

Posterguy get off your high horse. Teachers failed me I quit school when I was 16 and could not wait to do that. I bought books myself and returned to take my G.E.D by myself. You see when I went to school they cared more about teaching than peace and quiet in the class room. Today all the kids have to do is show up for class and be quiet to get a passing grade.

cardtrader. . . you still have some revisions to make on your last post. I'm sure a teacher would be glad to help you out with it. I posted this on Jim Lyke's Blog on the subject, but it seems appropriate here:
I think it's odd that whenever a school district needs to cover costs, taxpayers put the financial burden on JUST the teachers. Why not look at sharing the responsibility across the board? Start at the top and work down the ladder. It's crazy to ask JUST the teachers to shoulder a deficit without looking at the whole system that contributes to it. Not to mention that all this debate does is make teachers and their union look bad because they’re doing what any other person would do in this situation, fight for their family’s health and well-being (that’s what benefits do for people). It doesn't take a genius to figure out that once something is taken away, it will never be given back. I'm sure the administrators enjoy a nice benefits package, including bonuses. So why is it unfair to ask everyone to pitch in? Why do citizens think that teacher’s jobs, salaries, and benefits are first on the chopping block to find solutions to financial problems? This must mean that everyone who posts on here would gladly give up their benefits in order to give in to the ever popular defeatist attitude about the “’DEPRESSION’” in Rock County. We need perspective. We need to stop pointing fingers at who is to blame. We need to have a more positive outlook at our situations. We need good teachers to educate young people so that maybe we can learn how NOT to let history repeat itself in the future.

The bottom line is that the teachers won't give an inch but they expect everyone else to do so - they would even throw some of their peers under the bus to advance themselves. They are not better than anyone else in the work force - they need to stop throwing GM or factory workers in everyone's faces - that is an insult and it's getting old. While teachers may have a 4-year education that doesn't entitle them to more money in this climate. They are out of touch with the real world and what's going on in it.

Thank you, Stubby, for being one of the few in Janesville who will speak out in favor of teachers and what they do. It's a shame more people can't realize what it really takes to be a teacher.

Formal education and training requirements for physicians are among the most demanding of any occupation—4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty selected. A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 or 7 years rather than the customary 8 years.

Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in physics, biology, mathematics, English, and inorganic and organic chemistry.
Students spend most of the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and laws governing medicine.
Self-employed physicians—those who own or are part owners of their medical practice—generally have higher median incomes than salaried physicians. Earnings vary according to number of years in practice, geographic region, hours worked, skill, personality, and professional reputation. Self-employed physicians and surgeons must provide for their own health insurance and retirement.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm

Cardtrader, you're a fool if you think teachers only work 180 days a year. State law requires 180 days of class per school year for students. During the summer, most teachers either teach summer school or take classes as required to renew their licenses. In other jobs, taking classes is called training, which is usually provided by the employer. Teachers pay for their training out of pocket. Think about what you do for a job and how you're able to read and write and make 2+2=4 (I'm assuming on that one, which I know is dangerous), and how you got to where you are in life. Sure, you're family may have had something to do with that, but teachers are not babysitters, you self-righteous fool. Teachers are the reason most of us have been able to find some sort of success in life.

You know the way I see it is Teachers dont have to teach there are plenty of jobs that pay a hell of a lot less and you have to work more than 180 days a year. So to this I say either quit your whining teach and be happy you have a job or just quit. There are plenty of people that can baby sit.

You know the way I see it is Teachers dont have to teach there are plenty of jobs that pay a hell of a lot less and you have to work more than 180 days a year. So to this I say either quit your whining teach and be happy you have a job or just quit. Or just quit there are plenty of people that cant baby sit.

greatlady - Actually, I did own and run a very successful business for 10 years - sold it for a tidy profit! Know what I found? The key to my success was my employees. I paid them better than my competitors and gave them better benefits. They were very loyal and hard-working. Sure, I could have canned them and replaced them with cheaper labor, but at the cost of cutting my own throat. (allusion to the "I can hire 100 teachers for every vacancy comment, below)

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As for the education level of teachers - at least 2/3 of teachers have Master's Degrees, most with many credit hours beyond that. That does put them on equal footing with lawyers, ahead of most engineers and nurses. Doctors are a strectch. As for the "9-month contract" comment, it is well documented that teachers work as many or more hours in their 10 month contract (Late August through Mid-June) than most other work in a 12 month contract. Many work, unpaid, through the summer developing lessons, after hours grading and calling parents, and more. Very few people work as hard as teachers.

How are teachers compared to doctors; well, it takes 5 years to complete college for teachers. Graduate school for masters is 1 1/2 to 2 years and a semester of student teaching. Then there are teachers who did the 2 years to get their educational doctorate. Teachers also have to take 6 credits every 5 years to keep their license and have to pay money each time to re-new their license. Teachers also are salaried, which means when they work their average really of 50 - 60 hours per week instead of 40 they are not getting reinbursed for their time. Or the hours of work that they do outside of school time at home. I guess the big difference would be that teacher pay for an average of $1,000 per year out of pocket where as doctors don't have to do that.

Miltonian - How do you figure that teachers have the same education as doctors?

1. "Do you realize that teachers have the same education as professions such as doctors, lawyers, etc." Actually this is not true. Some have masters degrees but not a majority.
2. "Why are teachers being compared to city workers and other jobs like GM workers that requied 0 amount of schooling." They choose to unionize whereas doctors and lawyers cannot unionize because laws prevent this. So yes they will be compared to those workers.
3. "And compared to those other professions, teachers make so much less that it is pathetic." This is a long standing argument of the union. It is completely false when you calculate in the cost of benefits such as retirement and health insurance. Really...if you do the calculations a bachelor degreed teacher with some years of experience making $40,000 per year (not unusual from what I hear)+ approx $15,000 to $20,000 for health insurance per year (yes it does cost that much)+ retirement benefits second to none $10,000 per year. Pretty soon that teacher actually makes $65,000 to $70,000 per year. May I remind you that their contract is a 9 month contract, not 12 like a doctor or lawyer. My numbers provided by a family member who is a school board member in another community in WI.
4. "So lets drive these teachers out and get poor teachers in that will accept these benefits and hurt the students." This is a scare tactic. The truth is that for every teacher that retires there are hundreds (yes hundreds) of applicants for their single position. So please...no more scare tactics.
5. "There are several districts that have WAY better pay and benefits that they could go to in the area." Really? How's their bottom line doing? What's their tax base? Where are these districts? Name a few. I'm sure the teachers of Milton would like to know where they are.

Stubby - Time to look at both sides of an issue. You are obviously not a business owner. However, having been one in the past, I see how many Milton teachers do not support their local community/businesses. The teachers want to know who supports education in Milton - we, the taxpayers support it, but do not support their selfish demands.

You people amaze me with the teacher bashing. Do you realize that teachers have the same education as professions such as doctors, lawyers, etc. Why are teachers being compared to city workers and other jobs like GM workers that requied 0 amount of schooling. You need to start comparing the professionalism of teachers to that of professions that match their education. And compared to those other professions, teachers make so much less that it is pathetic. No one wants the schools to pay for good teachers and provide good benefits to keep the good teachers, but they will complain when the test scores for students is poor. Milton's test scores are higher than anywhere in the area because of getting and keeping good teachers, even getting teachers to travel in to Milton that live far away, because of the benefits. Because of having these fantastic teachers, the students' test scores are outstanding. So lets drive these teachers out and get poor teachers in that will accept these benefits and hurt the students. There are several districts that have WAY better pay and benefits that they could go to in the area.

Sorry - one more, Greatlady. IMHO, the community and businesses need to support the dedicated people who teach their children and provide them with the opportunities to create a better economy in the area. Would you think it fair if an employer cut pay and benefits while the business was steady and/or growing, just because other industries in the area were suffering? That is what you, as an employer, are asking.

Greatlady - do you know something about the negotiations that isn't published in this article? My very credible sources indicate that the teachers have offered a pay freeze, but the Board rejected it. Also - the administrators and support staff don't negotiate their benefits or salary...the Board unilaterally decides that, so there was no "choice to support the community" by either group. Could the decision be being used by the board to pressure the teachers? Sure looks that way.

Stubby - In my view, people need to support the community and businesses that pay their salaries. The administration and support staff had to make the choice in health providers years ago and so far, to my knowledge, are doing fine with it. Support staff also is taking a pay freeze for 2010-11 and the teachers still refuse to make concessions. Their utter lack of being in touch with what is actually happening in the world is pitiful.

Join the club.

Stevev - It has been pointed out in other blogs that the Superintendent does not have a district vehicle. The van that was used for the previous superintendent was traded for a Suburban for use by the HS Athletic Department (if I recall correctly).

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For all those "just be glad you have a job" folks out there. How many of you supported, for years, UAW workers who went on strike for higher wages and better benefits? Now you slam the teachers because they want to keep their benefits - and are willing to forego a salary increase to do so? (Hardly the "refusing to make concessions" and "greed" portrayed by "Greatlady") This may come as a shock to you, but many teachers commute from communities like Fort Atkinson or Elkhorn, or Rockford and the insurance options the district wants to offer (see the paper) don't cover those areas. So those folks face huge out-of-network expenses. Seems like the teachers have some pretty reasonable concerns.

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Justwatchin's post is also accurate. The district press release is pure negotiating propaganda that has the appearance of truth, but doesn't pan out in real numbers. If the District was to keep all those rollover dollars, and freeze the salaries, and increase copays and coinsurance, they would save money - at the cost of about a 5-10% net compensation decrease for a top teacher (when you consider the additional out-of-pocket costs of the insurance) , and more like 15-20% decrease for a new teacher. Does that seem like a fair offer to you?

Why is it that the Gazette disables comments on scumbag burglars and drug dealing teens, but they leave anything on about teachers or retiring principals? That is precisely why so many people dislike the Gazette...

It's sad the teachers of Milton are only worried about what they can get. When just yesterday half of the school's in Kansas City shut down and 700 teachers are losing there jobs, Time to give a little and maybe we can save your district. Just a thought.

Mr. Nikolay doesn't drive a district-owned vehicle - check your facts before you make yourself look more stupid.

And how much could they save if they took away Superintendent Nikolai's district provided vehicle and stopped paying him mileage to drive to his job from his home in Cambridge?

Most municipalities will be facing tough times - and tough choices - in the near future. The workforce of municipal employees will be forced to shrink in size. Whining about healthcare benefits will seem trite when jobs begin disappearing.

Milton teachers want to be considered as "professionals." Really? Their refusal to make any concessions in this economic climate are, to me, absolutely absurd. They appear to have a sense of entitlement which translates to greed, pure and simple greed. They should be ashamed of themselves.

My understanding is that the district is still using QEO and package costing when negotiating contracts. If this is the case the district would not get all of these savings, if any at all. My understanding of the law is that it is not possible. Once again Milton School District is not giving the complete truth. This is a district that every year tells the public there is a short fall in the budget but every year they put money away, two years ago it was over one million dollars. They will not get all the money but want you to think that they will. That is what I understand from watching these articles.

Be thankful Wisconsin. California is cutting 26,500 teachers jobs. Plus another 15,000 bus drivers, janitors, & teachers,are on notice that they may also be cut.
Illinois is also 13 billion in the red. Missing payments to local governments and reducing funding 7-10% to schools.

How is having low salary and good insurance having your cake and eating it too? In my opinion, having the insurance is what offsets the low salary a teacher makes compared to other professions.

Some members don't live in the network?? How far do they live from their workplace? The coverage should accomodate workers living near their workplace, but it's not obligated to do any more than that.

Welcome to the REAL world Ms. Kress... You can't have your cake and eat it too! Not these days...