Eagle – I have not seen an increase in my school tax contribution. In fact, it has decreased. Again, the last sentence of your response to me read “I know I was personally educated during the ACT 10 debate on what educators make I was surprised it was much higher than I was ever lead to believe even by educators in my family.” What is that supposed to mean? Are you saying a teacher is not worth what they are paid or are you saying you’re not willing to pay them what they are worth? Eagle – if it’s simple math, then how do you determine of value of a teacher based on the tax based of the community. Is it possible that there are other non-tangible values that you’re not considering such as the ability to attract good teachers to the district or the return in our invest by giving our children a quality education. I don’t think it’s as simple as you think.

Mouse, wow way to stretch what people are saying, you are quite the master at that. Nobody has ever said on here teachers are not needed, I can only speak for myself when I say none of the poor poverty type stories I get told about how overworked and underpaid teachers are have much of an impact. Like I have stated before ACT 10 was a real eye opener to many of us as to what educators were truly making, not the just above poverty level they want us to believe, so cut the crap, either deal with reality or keep making your ridiculous claims that just damage what little credibility you have left.

Anyone - ANYONE - who insists that teachers, administrators, and others who work with our children are overpaid learned nothing while in school themselves and clearly has never visited a classroom or school since they day they left those halls as a student. Education is demanding, self-sacrificing field of employment, and usually a completely thankless job where the only recognition and personal satisfaction comes from knowing it is a life-calling that is shaping and creating the future for all of us. THANK A TEACHER ... AND AN ADMINISTRATOR ... TODAY!

forabetterjanesville, only one issue with your point, I agree there are people that have advanced through hard work, however to pay any public sector job means the entire private sector needs to contribute, which as a whole has been reduced greatly over the past 4-5 years, sure you will have some that do good in a down economy I had that happen to me during the last downturn. However if you are going to use the entire citizenry to pay for public sector jobs, then you will be at the mercy of the ups and downs we face in the private sector, it is pretty simple math really. I know I was personally educated during the ACT 10 debate on what educators make I was surprised it was much higher than I was ever lead to believe even by educators in my family.

fordfan, I like that idea, good plan!

I’ve had enough of those who say that teachers, administrators, etc. are overpaid. I’ve seen all too often people saying “they should have their pay decreased just like the rest of us in the private sector.” To those that say this, I say speak for yourselves! I am from the private sector and I have experienced career advancement along with other private sector workers that I know. Those that are advancing have sacrificed several years of their lives to become successful and may have pursued a higher education to obtain professional jobs that have opportunities for advancement. I suspect those who have posted such comments are jealous have not taken the time to seek higher education or training to obtain qualifications for such jobs. It’s not a secret that those who do take these sacrifices tend to be the first to get these professional positions. Let’s treat administrators and teachers as professionals and stop the discussion on how they need to receive pay cuts like the rest of us. Not true! Think about the decisions you’ve made in life ! You had the same choices! You had every right to be one of these professionals. You just may have chosen a different path. How are we going to advance the people of Janesville out of this rut we are in? It’s not going to be by the way of continued finger pointing and jealousy of teachers, administrators, etc. Let’s support our schools as it’s the right thing to do.

Consider this…if they insist on incentive pay, build in a penalty portion also. If you want a 6% incentive swing, pay the administrators 97% of base pay. If they meet expectations, they get up to 100% of base pay and if they over-achieve they can get up to 103% of base pay. Or they can use a 9% swing such as 97% up to 106%. Or a 12% swing where it is a 94% up to a 106% swing. Poor performers would be clearly identified and would be “encouraged” to improve.

I don’t like the incentive idea in education as there is no quality control of the students entering the education system and now there is diminished union protection to protect the teachers from rogue administrators (and there are many in the education system in general – I am not speaking of any specific district). After working in an incentive base company for decades, I see how some can abuse the system, abuse co-workers and damage the business just to get their bonus. It can easily destroy team-work.

woodsman: No disrespect meant but there lies part of the problem-"in my day..." So many people now days like to compare their days in school with 2013. They are sooooo different. I wish kids were like they were in MY DAY too. The general public really has no idea the "baggage" that kids come to school with due to the home lives of so many. The educational expectations are very different as well. Kindergarten used to be a "social event" but now kids are expected to be reading basic books by the end of kindergarten. If we went back to the pure "socialization" of kindergarten from "my day", we would have the public jumping all over the schools because the students were lagging behing there peers at the state, national and international level...more than they might be now. The past is that...the past and things are very different with kids AND educational expectations. I am in the various Jvlle schools on a weekly basis as a substitute and I see nothing but employees working their tails off to get these students to be the productive citizens that we all want them to be. Keep up the hard work Janesville staff!!

Of COURSE they would get their big pay raise! How ridiculous. Janesville is UNBELIEVEABLE.

Why do people throw an absolute fit anytime someone makes money? This is why people work...to make money. Be realistic, public or private sector, your major motivator is pay and ultimately pay increases. Anyone that disagrees with that is lying.

It looks to me like most taxpayers were against this. Apparently, the school board does not share the same opinion as the public in this matter. Hmm, voting in the wrong people does have consequences.

I guess i didn't/don't see the difference between teachers & administrators Or principals,in my day if a teacher did not come to work,those mentioned above are suppose to be able to cover there jobs,and know how to do any of them,they can't anymore?? That's why they get the big bucks i thought!

Fantastic! Now if the union only had the courage to promote a similiar plan for teachers! The best teachers would earn more-as they should, the bad teachers would be incentivized to do better, and some would lose their jobs-just like the real world!

Accountability!

Unbelieveable.

"Schulte said the performance standards are so high that it’s unlikely anyone will earn the full 6 percent,"
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These "administrators" are supposed to be the most highly qualified and highly capable people available. The list of qualifications for these positions is staggering.
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Why would there be an expecation that these top level educational professionals cannot function with excellence in every aspect of their tasks?
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Why does Ms. Schulte think it unlikely that the Top level of salaried management that facillitate education of our children and magement of our teachers, would NOT PERFORM AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF MEASURABLE PERFORMANCE?
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Have the exact performance criteria to be measured been published? Are the new performance standards at least tied to overall improved test scores by students? Are they tied into No Child Left Behind or some other recognized OBJECTIVE national standard?
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Or are the criteria SUBJECTIVE, the very thing that is being removed from every student rubric across the the nation. (have they even actually been created yet)
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Dig newspeople dig.

Geez, you could have at least waited a year.... Talk about bad timing and bad PR !!

Woodsman, maybe you should get a job instead of living on unemployment." only work nine months" ? How about " only get paid for nine months" ! The next three months they have NO contract...Unemployed ! Besides, this article is about ADMINISTRATORS, not teachers. Learn to read !

Woodsman: This article has nothing to do with the teachers! Read then reread, and then comment! This might reduce your chance of looking like a fool? Another expert citizen who is clueless!

Its alway easier to spend somone elses money. Shame on the school board for approving pay raises. Pay cuts are in order like the rest of the working world. I do not buy the "we have to pay the prevailing wage or they will leave" theory. Let them go, plenty of others willing to do it for less.

woodsman, the School District actually reduced its tax levy in the current budget.
http://gazettextra.com/news/2012/oct/24/...

Thought Janesville was broke??
The people are, that now will have to pay more,this is ridiculous,teachers already make 3 times more then i have to live on,and only work(use that word lightly)9 months!!

hows about this for educators? Administrators make enough, good grief!! Do they get a bonus for enforcing the stupid dress code? Board keeps doing stupid things, please Janesville replace them all!! Starting with how we vote them in, so we can get a clear picture of each individual's agenda. Because every single one of them has one. People who serve on the board almost always have personal/political axes to grind. Very few of them actually have interest of kids and the best way to educate them.