While I generally no longer comment on these posts, I do think that it is important to relay accurate information.

1. In essence, the new modified contract being signed by a date set in state statute is no different than what has occurred before every other contract was negotiated. The contract was seldom settled before the statutory required dates of “non- renewal” notices expired and employees routinely signed these contracts that had “items still to be worked out”. It is true however, that with the changeover to a handbook format under Act 10, the type and scope of items being worked on are more open to change than in previous years.

2. Signing the modified contracts does not lock that person into accepting unknown terms. By signing the contracts they are guaranteeing themselves that they will have a job. They still have the right to rescind, without penalty, up until June 15th if they are not happy with provisions of the handbook. The handbook should be completed well before then.

3. This is the same procedural step that our administrators went through last month.

To characterize that this equates to “agree to work for unknown terms or you are fired” is completely false.

Sincerely,
Bill Sodemann
608-531-1883
bsodemann@janesville.k12.wi.us

The union's threat is a great promotion of vouchers. Voucher supporters should be grateful for the union's help.

Looks like Ohio has the same problem....

http://www.inquisitr.com/571155/strongsv...

carlitosway: Yes, I agree you can read it now after it was shoved down our throats, but how many Senators or Representatives read it before voting on it? I bet the answer is NONE! Maybe you should spend a bit more time on reading comprehension before spouting off by spewing your inaccurate union talking points. You could be more of a benefit if you were a little better educated on the issues.

The union threatening to sue? Whose going to pay for this? (Union dues?) Welcome to 1950.

I hope the school board meets the union to court.

Open the doors-let the public see EXACTLY what the union wants and what the JSD is offering in return. Sunlight on these negotiation can only help the public understand that these idle threats by the union are nothing more than a feeble negotiation ploy.

Open the doors and let the public see what our tax dollars are paying for!

Handbookharry-Thanks for the info but we are talking about JEA and WEAC. Also your statement "Public sector unions hand pick legislators who make sure they get what they want." is TRUE. The same is also true about private sector unions, conservative lobbyists, business organizations....I mean come on, the whole system is like that.

Unfortunately it comes down to this their saying sign it or else. You can't sign A contract unless you know what you are about to agree to you would not do yourself a favor by signing a unread contract with out knowing the details.

To be fair, the headline should also read: School board to teachers, Sign this undetermined agreement or be terminated.

Fairness falls to the wayside by a corporately run newspaper though doesn't it?

Same way Democracy falls to the way side when an apathetic uninterested community let's corporate funded astro turfed tea party candidates get elected to the school board.

As to the comments of no one's holding a gun to a teacher's head? Some of these "Lazy" "Entitled" teachers just paid the ultimate sacrifice a few months ago from gun wounds. How soon you forget. Shame on you.

Only a complete idiot would sign a contract that binds them to a myriad of conditions but states that the other party is free to change the rules at any time. Period. Nothing to do with teachers or any other group of public or private employees, employers, or anything else.

---

Anyone who disagrees is free to contact me and sign a contract in which I agree to pay you an unspecified amount to work an unspecified job for an unspecified period - oh - and I reserve the right to change conditions at my discretion. Don't worry - I'll be fair to you. Just know that if you break any of my unspecified rules that you can be in breech.

"Those that have a decent wage, safe working place, equal pay, vacation, 40 hour work week, overtime wages, protection from discrimination and sexual harassment and much more,, THANK A UNION !!!!! Some will ever see the truth."

Once again, private unions championed these causes not public sector unions. Public sector unions are a direct conflict of interest. Public sector unions were conceived to garner votes for liberal politicians. Read your union history.

It's like a private sector employee telling his supervisor to make a policy or rule to make sure he gets higher wages regardless of performance. Public sector unions hand pick legislators who make sure they get what they want.

"They got into a profession and were made promises about pay and benefits, and now those have been slashed and they have been vilified."

Nothing in life is guaranteed anymore.

"Teachers have spent a lot of time and money on educating themselves and they should be rewarded for it."

So have millions of people who have lost their jobs in the economy. Key word is "lost".

Teach or be fired.

Dodgco

Here you go....

Jana Weaver, Beil’s assistant director made $138,553.
16 field representatives of the AFSCME Wisconsin State Council make more than $90,000 annually.
Richard Abelson, Executive Director of ASCFME Council 48 in Milwaukee, made an annual salary of $106,122 in 2009.
AFT-WI, a state government employee union that is a part of the AFL-CIO, paid its president, Bryan Kennedy, $129,402 in 2008.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/...

Same ole Same ole, union bosses this, evil teachers only care about the money that. Instead of trying to bring teachers down because other people have suffered, why not demand better for yourself? Teachers have spent a lot of time and money on educating themselves and they should be rewarded for it. We trust them with our kids, both their safety and their minds. I'm so sick of the, "you can tell they REALLY do it for the kids" with an eye roll. Teachers have families and bills too. They got into a profession and were made promises about pay and benefits, and now those have been slashed and they have been vilified. The teachers aren't the bad guys. They aren't the ones that crashed the economy. They aren't the ones who made property values drop. They haven't raised taxes. They are people who do a thankless job, spend countless hours on their own time grading and prepping classrooms. They do care about the students, but this is a job at the end of the day. They aren't volunteers. As for comments like Bowlgal's about the parents being responsible for the students eduction, I agree but that's up to the parents. IF you don't like what the school is doing then by all means home school your kids and see how easy it is.

Honorfirst You can research the Healthcare act and see the whole Plan. If you want to lie about things Just remember the internet has sites to back truth... So much ignorance as to who the bullies really are Get a clue! The UNIONS WORK FOR THEIR MEMBERS>>> Those that have a decent wage, safe working place, equal pay, vacation, 40 hour work week, overtime wages, protection from discrimination and sexual harassment and much more,, THANK A UNION !!!!! Some will ever see the truth.

"Sign zee papers, old man." [audible puff on cigarette in holder]

"I can not sign zee papers"

"Sign zee papers OLD MAN!"

"But I cannot sign zee papers"

"WHY CAN YOU NOT SIGN ZEE PAPERS!!"

"Because you have broken both of my hands."

Please enlighten us with the whole story!!
The teachers were called into a mtg this AM (last minute emergency) to view a video statement that the board would have contracts ready on 4/9, they would give them to the teachers 4/10 and they had to be signed and returned by 4/17. Anyone not returning the signed form would be out of work as of next school year. They were further advised that once the forms were completed changes could be made at will (not sure anyone in the school board understands the term "contract".) The video could only be viewed from the schools, so there is no way that the public can see the intimidation tactic. The Right Wing Rag (a more appropriate name for the local "news"paper) did its best to ensure that people see the teachers and the union as the bullies in this situation.
The teachers were called into a mtg this AM (last minute emergency) to view a video statement that the board would have contracts ready on 4/9, they would give them to the teachers 4/10 and they had to be signed and returned by 4/17. Anyone not returning the signed form would be out of work as of next school year. They were further advised that once the forms were completed changes could be made at will (not sure anyone in the school board understands the term "contract".) The video could only be viewed from the schools, so there is no way that the public can see the intimidation tactic. The Right Wing Rag (a more appropriate name for the local "news"paper) did its best to ensure that people see the teachers and the union as the bullies in this situatio

I wouldn't be comfortable signing a contract under which my working conditions, hours, benefits, etc listed "TBD"! And then when they are determined, having to potentially pay a fine to get out of the contract? I have always had the opportunity to closely study my contracts prior to signing. And if these are individual contracts, perhaps each teacher should be able to personally negotiate their terms as in many "private" sector jobs since that seems to be all the rage these days.

The unions have already proven in released letters and actions they do not care about the children or the educators. The sooner education is put back into the hands of the parents the better we will all be in the future.

Please show me how a retirement benefit, or lack therof, can make the quality of education that my child receives any better than a retirement benefit that is lesser. I don't see this as a divide/conquer, I see this issue simply as that in which I've been paying for something to get something (quality benefit package for quality teaching) yet, for the amount of time that I've been paying, the only payback that I've seen is that "we aren't making enough, and your childs education is suffering for it". I support fair pay, etc., and don't believe that a teacher should be making minimum wage, with no benefits. However, the money well has dried up. I've watched my property value go down, while the mill rate goes up. I've listened to how terrible it is that someone won't get their retirement benefit, or health insurance while in retirement - meanwhile, I get to continue to go to work, listen to my boss tell me that raises aren't available, and my benefits are getting cut - which includes my retirement - all the while the teachers keep saying they don't know if they should hold out or not, and/or we teachers deserve this because we deal with your kids. You deal with my kids, so I should pay your medical insurance while you are in retirement. I get it now. Again, Union terrorism at its finest. Also, I can't recall the last time that a person had a gun held to their head and were forced to teach. The last time I checked, you chose to enter that profession, and I am sure the retirement plan wasn't the primary reason for that choosing.

Go Teachers WIN WIN WIN

I too am curious to hear who these union bosses are that make so much money. If you stated it, then you must have names and wages.

To clarify what someone else has said, they have signed contracts in the past without the contract being settled but there are two differences this time. One, (in the past) the current contract stays in place until a new one is signed. Two, the teachers knew they had a say in what the new contract would be. This time, there is no contract extension and no say in what is mandated.

Another point is that if a teacher signs now and the wages and/or benefits get slashed and they decide to leave the district, there is a penalty they need to pay for breaking the contract.

Lastly, the school board spent way too much time working on a dress code instead of working on the budget.

The union does not care one whit about the "kids". This is about revenge on Walker, power and trying to milk more money out of taxpayers.

Does any one know where to find the "presentation" on the Janesville School District website? I looked but couldn't find it. From what I heard, it is ridiculous and time wasn't allowed for questions after.

"JANESVILLE — The Janesville School Board did as expected Tuesday, shifting funds from its reserves to balance the 2012-13 budget."

"The board was unanimous in approving the tax levy, the budget and use of the reserves, or fund balance, to plug a budget shortfall of $3.94 million."

http://gazettextra.com/news/2012/oct/24/...

thatwaseasy - What is funny two area districts, Beloit and Milton have been under the Act 10 for 2 years now and they are both citing budget shortfalls and making cuts for the 2nd year in a row! And Janesville who has not been under Act 10 is not citing a shortfall; how is it now that Act 10 is helping districts??

If we put all this money, legislation, and effort into ensuring proper parenting, this would be a non-issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd0XW9r2t...

"The school district, meanwhile, told teachers today that they must sign individual contracts and a separate “standards of professional conduct” by April 17 or face termination."

This is the PERFECT argument for why unions are needed.

Bleeding Heart, the schools belong to the community. If the community would show up at every single school board meeting and voice their opinion, then the school board would make decisions based on what the people want. But guess what, no one shows up. Our teachers deserve a place at the negotiating table. They are the ones with 30+ kids every day, all day, and they KNOW what needs to be done. We should be relying on them, not disrespecting them. Nothing is perfect, every district is struggling. But divide and conquer should not be our goal. We need to pitch in and cooperate to educate these kids the best we can in hard times. Collaboration and cooperation. We are all in this together. In Janesville it used to be GM workers that took the brunt of the complaints, now it's the teachers. Get real. This is a partnership, not a dictatorship. Teacher working conditions ARE student learning conditions.

This is the Walker/Republican vision for (not) educating kids:
Three private schools in Milwaukee continued to receive taxpayer money through the voucher program after losing their accreditation, under a loophole in state law that requires such schools to obtain that official approval but not maintain it.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/t...

The refusal to stay the order of Judge Colas is not upholding his decision, but it is an indication that his decision was not capricious or arbitrary. Bottom line is that the Board does have a legal obligation to negotiate with the JEA under the current law. Failure to do so, and imposing a handbook would be considered "bad faith" in the courts and the district would lose much more than they would by coming to the table. If the appeals court later overturns the decision, they can always pull the handbook out. But until that time - they must comply with their legal obligation to negotiate.

thatwaseasy- your post is a ridiculous rhetoric filled garbage. Is the Union boss your referring too Dave Parr? Not sure if Dave smokes cigars, or is some sort of fat cat, but he is a teacher in the district. This whole montra of "union bosses" is about as ridiculous a the notion that teachers, by fighting for better wages and benefits, are the greedy ones.
Where are the thank yous from the conservatives to the JEA and their self funded health insurance that has saved taxpayers tens of millions of dollars over the last 10+ years? The lies of republicans about school districts being forced to accept WEA trust should be evident. JEA has been SELF funded and allowed the district to stash upwards of 20 million dollars in fund 10 balance while the board has been lying about defecits.

The teachers have been subject to QEO laws limiting their compensation during the boom of the economy,and now we want to take more from them, based on nothing more than union hate and political ideology. This isnt about honesty, this is about greed, this is about a political axe to grind. This is how conservatives treat their most important public servants? They are willing to jack up Military spending and military pay and benefits but screw teachers? Talk about messed up priorities. Maybe if we spend more time, effort , and money educating kids we wont have a generation so quick to run off to unbudgeted wars on TV. The GWB generation of republicans are ruiningthe nation and the world. Reagan conservatives were so much more reasonable. Of course Reagan would be a liberal by todays standards

Funny how one of the school districts B.S. priorities are to "attract and retain" the best teachers.
So you want these current teachers to sign an open ended contract so you can screw them later, what about the new hires coming into the district?
District add in the paper
"Teaching position open in Janesville. Sorry we won't tell you what we are going to pay you. No we aren't going to tell you what you will earn in benefits. No we aren't going to tell you what your work day will look like. Hell we may not even tell you what you are teaching. If you want the job, sign the contract within 24 hours."
Sounds ignorant doesn't it? Well that is exactly what they are going to have to do if they don't get their heads out of their ... and release their plans.

wasp -- you are correct!

RockEnvironmentalNetwork - you've got it all wrong. The teachers don't work for us, the teachers work for the school district. The district is directed by the school board, whom are elected by us. Telling a teacher they work for you is the same as telling a cop that they work for you not the police department. You don't hire/fire cops, and you don't hire/fire teachers. It's been this way since school boards were put in place. If you don't like the what the school board is doing - don't vote for them. It's called representative government. Maybe the schools should be teaching how these things work (civics) instead of how to embrace someone who is a LBGT.

I believe their is more than one law suit involved in this issue. Some of these issues concern the federal constitution and will not be decided by the state supreme court. The federal appeals courts will have jurisdiction, I believe. I don't think they will see the U.S. supreme court. Right now, as I understand it, act 10 is not law, so things are where they were 2 years ago.

thatwaseasy: Funny!

Bottom line is ACT 10 is saving everybody money and unions just make up their own rules as they get taken down. The only people who lost are those rich fat cat stogie smoking union bosses. Go home and get out of the way of our children's educations.

Milton17

I agree...the NCLB law is a disgrace to students who can't meet it...However these students are a minority of the population.

It is because of ACT 10 Evansville has half a chance of having a balanced budget. Being bent over by the unions has just screwed the Evansville district to no end. Until now.

It isn't the horrible act the comments are making it out to be. Teachers sign a contract stating they will be back the following year at all districts every year that they are retained. It is also a time when the districts can start planning for their needs for the following year by counting the noses of who is returning. Most years the pay level is on the contract at the time it is signed, but in years when the contract hasn't been settled it is still done- and if a person refused to sign it, they would in effect terminate their service at the end of the current school year. People who may be looking for another job, still sign as insurance as do people who are unsure about retiring. The article and some of the comments make this sound unusual, but it is not. I would be very surprised if a veteran teacher hasn't already decided whether to retire or not...I really don't think educated people are that much at sea on the choices before them.

Please God, show me an easy way out of here!

We are behind other countries because we guarantee education to all children, even those with severe disabilities. And then we have to test ALL children even if they are severely disabled and they are all expected to be proficient on them. All other "industrialized" nations isolate and place disabled kids out of schools.

I think it's just terrible they way these poor teachers and their unionista bosses are being treated...they should all pack up and go get jobs in the private sector..where they'll be treated the way they deserve to be treated...

The US spends more money than most industrialized nations on education yet we lag behind. This is not a money issue.

RockEnvironmentalNetwork

I agree...so why is the union in the way also?

If the school board cares about the education of Janesville School District children they better be negotiating..I'd hate to be an administrator or school board member if every teacher in the school district refuses to sign their baloney contract that has to replace more than 700 teachers!

Bottom line, Act 10 is not working and never will. How's Milton's budget?

Check how Act 10 is working for beloit as well.

jhigh -- check out the article on how Act 10 is working out for Milton.

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." —Henry Ford

Gee. It's funny how Act 10 seems to be working for the vast majority of the school systems in the state, but Janesville just can't seem to get the hang of it.

li713 -- that's all there is to know right now. There is no more to the story. That's all we were told today.

People need to pay attention to the way the school board and Administration are treating staff. These people work for us - with us - to teach our kids, they don't work for the School Board or for Administration - THEY WORK FOR US. The schools belong to the community, they do not belong to the School Board or Administration. This is a partnership, and this IS NOT THE WAY you treat your partner. DO NOT VOTE FOR ANY INCUMBANT, we need new board members that are not afraid to do what is best for EVERYONE THAT IS IN THIS RELATIONSHIP. Those involved are students, parents, teachers, staff, and the community/taxpayers. We need to stand together people. This is absolutely unacceptable.

The only problem is that Act 10 has not been over turned...If act 10 goes to the Supreme Court and is upheld then the contract is not valid...The school board would be wise to wait til Act 10 works it way completely thru the system..

Seriously? This is the example we are setting for our kids, and our city? Bullying from the union, pitted against a signature deadline with only 8 days to review the contract? I don't even know whose side I'm on anymore.

Well to me this is about nothing more than greed control and money and the kids unfortunately the kids and parents are caught in the middle. But it dose sound like the school board is saying sign the contract or else.

Check out the video. It is a slap in the face to teachers. They had to make a mock skit and couldn't even look the teachers/ camera in the eye. Very sad, just very sad.

Red--It seems to be working just fine...Have the schools closed down? Are students running wild in the streets? Are school employees sleeping in cardboard boxes down by the river? As I said, the public workers' unions in this state are no longer relevant. They are finished and need to come to terms with the fact that they can no longer demand things of the communities they USED to operate in! You have to love Wisconsin:)

"The school board needs to tell the union to go pound sand!"
-
Brilliant strategy 916WI. The school board has been employing that tactic ever since Act 10 was first passed - so how's that strategy been working so far? The acrimony generated by the school board as it runs roughshod over school district employees gives even more relevancy to the needs of a teachers Union.

I thought school teachers didn't endorse or allow bullying? This is more like a temper tantrum.

The school board needs to tell the union to go pound sand! With the money that the unions threw away in their attempt to get Walker out of office--great investment by the way:)--they probably don't have enough money to hire an attorney at this point.....

The other part not in the article was the JSD plans on having something for teachers to review a week or so before the contract must be signed. Whether it's a full handbook or retirement benefits, I don't know. Check our the district site for a video the teachers saw.

More lawyers employed. I'm seeing a pattern here.

I won't call people out but you know who you are: the one's that say the teachers should sign this contract or be fired. This contract is nonsense, it has no financial, or benefit information included! Geez people.

Well said, huntfish1.

I'm really beginning to wish that the gazette would disable the comments section on the preview stories they post. There is something seriously wrong with reporting partial information, then encouraging people to form an opinion and discuss those opinions. Clearly there is a whole lot more to this story, and it's left me with a lot of unanswered questions. I'm going to save my opinion for the full story. Hopefully it contains a whole lot more information and answers some questions.

huntfish1: That is exactly what they did with Obamacare. To this day, they still do not know the entire content of what it contains. If it good enough for the rest of America why isn't that concept good enough for our beloved teachers?

after a very long layoff stoughton trailers recalled some workers and hired new workers with the so called individual contacts to keep their jobs and what the contact meant that the workers were no longer given any benifits and it was legal to do this. everybody had to start all over vaction time gone and all benifits gone and the starting pay was a big drop then it used to be. so if i was a teacher no way would i sign that contact.

The deal that was presented today was this...
Sign this contract knowing that it will change.
Sign this contract but we will not tell you what your pay will be.
Sign this conract without knowing what your insurance will be.
Sign this contract without knowing what your sick days will be.

Have any of you ever signed a contract to buy a car or house not knowing the agreed upon price and terms of the deal. That would be crazy.
Have any of you ever signed a contract to work somewhere that did not tell you how much your salary or hourly rate would be? Crazy.
Have any of you ever signed a contract to work for a business that won't tell you how many sick days if any you can have or if the ones you have built up will carry over?? Crazy.
These crazy teachers are demanding so much...
The simple fact is that the school board won't say a thing but want teachers to lock in to a contract they have been told nothing about. Seems about par for the course.
Let's go buy a house. Just sign here. Don't worry about what the price is or mortgage rate or payment. Just sign here. Makes sense.
Pitiful the way the board has handled the whole thing. It is what is expected though.

"The Colás ruling also didn't change the fact that public employers can now impose on workers their best and final offer if bargaining fails to produce a deal."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Let the threats begin.

i know, why don't we send someone to Red China to consult with the teachers' unions over there to see what they think? oh wait, they probably get fired for not coming to work. seriously spend some of the time and money that trip cost us to make a deal with the skilled professionals who educate our children!!!!!

The school board should fire anyone who doesn't sign and hire replacements. Then they can use all the training the JEA has provided the school board over the years with stalling to force arbitration to delay the progress of the law suit.

Alternatively, the school could offer a 20%-across-the-board cut in pay and benefits and settle for a 5% cut, calling it an increase for the teachers. After all, that tactic worked for Obama.

AMEN sue them. I just dont understand what the school board is trying to do. You mess with the teacher and their pay what do you think their attitude is going to be. Telling them they have to sign it or they dont have a job. What are they going to do if no one signs the papers? I hope the teachers all stand strong and dont sign it. I want to see who they will get to teach the kids. I am glad that I dont have any kids in the Janesville system anymore. I hope that no one signs it and the janesville schools have to close. Then you can thank Mr. No Brains Walker for this. I hope that all the test scores that No Brain wants to use drop right off the paper. This whole thing is the bestest joke I have ever seen.. You pay for what you get. Cut the pay and your going to cut the quality of education drops too. Think about that. Its true look at walker. Stay strong Janeville

We'll sue...for the kids.