Disqus - Latest Comments for ShowMeTheData

Re: STAND for CHILDREN:Empowering Educators:Success for All Students

ShowMeTheData — Sun, 30 May 2010 11:27:41 -0000

You are absolutely right. We do need to care more about education as a society. I just read in a recent speech by Arne Duncan that South Korea's President Lee stated that the biggest education challenge he has is that South Korea's parents are too demanding. Wouldn't that be a great problem to have in the US and in Washington State? We all to have to step up and demand change. We all need to pay attention and demand the best for our kids and our country's future. A great documentary to see is "Paramount Duty." You will be schocked at what our passive attitudes have allowed to happen in our schools. It really is that bad.

Re: Kent levies deserve ‘yes’ -- Editor's Note - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:14:37 -0000

The NEWS (Network for Excellence Washington Schools) lawsuit and ruling confirms that our State has not funded our schools properly and our legislature has not performed its constitutional duty to the citizens of Washington State. Thank you for reminding readers of the importance of this critical piece of our District's funding.

Re: RYAN RYALS: The K Street lobbying shuffle for the citizens - Covington Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:26:12 -0000

Love it! I checked out the website. I am Covington resident so I can't tell if those leaves are from Maple Valley or not. Please continue lobbying efforts for a Trader Joe's. The QFC in Covington is the perfect location.

Re: Whistleblower letter alleges shelter neglect - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:58:02 -0000

Write an e-mail to your council member NOW. It doesn't have to be fancy. Here's a link to their e-mail addresses and a map of the districts in case you don't know which council member is yours. http://www.kingcounty.gov/c...
Influence your elected officials. They need to hear from you.

Re: Coalition threatens to try for recall of Kent School Board members Berrios, Davies - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:17:39 -0000

Thank you for taking the time to respond. You present a valid argument. And I did not mean to suggest that you were reporting slander. It's the slander that fuels these organizations. While there are some facts and merit buried within their agenda, they prefer slander to fact to motivate their members. It is an unfortunate fact that as a society, we wish to take things apart rather than educate ourselves, join forces and build something great.

Re: Legislator speaks: School battles can bear fruit - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:15:07 -0000

It should be noted that Representative Pat Sullivan serves the 47th Legislative District. Additionally, he is Vice Chair of the Education Appropriations Committee and Member of the Quality Education Council. Simply "Kent Reporter Contributer" doesn't give him the same distinction as granted to Senator Kauffman's editorial.

Re: Coalition threatens to try for recall of Kent School Board members Berrios, Davies - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:05:21 -0000

While I would love to say that kentdadof2's use of the word "tabloid" is a little overzealous, I think he is right on the money. Tonight, at the School Board meeting, Brian Beckley hung out with Charles Allen and literally RAN to talk to Alan Sutlif, another instrumental KPC member (and WEA employee by the way). I am interested to see what Beckley writes about the meeting and would be willing to bet money that we won't hear about some of the POSITIVE highlights offered by the two reps from the classified staff's union, Mark Hargrove's encouragement to contact our stage legislators, Dale Smith's encouragement to route energy from this crisis into positive community organizations such as Stand for Children, and Dan Morris's call for all pro-education groups to work together for more funding for our schools. And let's not forget the passionate 3 minutes and then some from Mrs. Berrios where she cited a HUGE track record of public service provided by her husband who has been the target of the KEA and now the KEA homespun group called KPC. There really are some people out there trying to make positive change and they are not given a cover story! Let's actually get some facts into this newspaper and spend less print on this "slander is more fun than fact" game.

Re: Bitter education battles can bear fruit - Covington Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:27:54 -0000

I actually met Representative Sullivan last night at the kick off event for the Kent Chapter of Stand for Children. He has a daughter who is a senior in Kent School District and in our short conversation, he told me about this editorial so I came looking to check it out. (As kentdadof2 mentioned in another post, I could not find it in the Kent Reporter on-line edition either.)
I urge all community members to contact your state legislators. Our publicly elected officials must hear from us. Funding will not solve everything, but it will make a HUGE difference. The passage of HB2261 is only the first step. The bill did not contain a funding source and much work lays ahead. Stay informed to make that pot of money bigger so that our teachers can be paid a competitive wage, our class sizes can be smaller, and so we can turn our list of complaints into a list of opportunities of improvement!

Re: Parents and students for and against Kent teachers' strike wave signs in Covington - Covington & Maple Valley Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:13:30 -0000

As much as I would love to visibly support the parents who are against this strike, I have to say that I am "in hiding." As a super involved parent in the school, I am fearful of what my teachers/friends will do. I am on various committees and what not, and basically cannot put those things at risk. I do not drive by the school and I avoid seeing them whenever possible. When it's unavoidable, I ignore their conversations of donuts and editorials while they enjoy the spotlight. I tried to enlighten a few with actual facts about state funding, but they prefer slander to fact. And, that's the way it is. We all love and respect teaching as a noble profession, and because of that, I have to hide my opinion that pulling my child into a labor dispute is simply unacceptable and that strikes are illegal by public employees because of the harm done. Like it or not teachers, you are harming us. Just "so the district will take you seriously," you have taken a labor dispute between you and your employer and have created a rift between parents and the schools, between parents and teachers, between teachers and the district, and between parents and the district. Besides a good teacher, what else ensures a child's success? Parental involvement! I will still be there after the strike, but not with the same passion as before when I thought we were all on the same team. As my son's teacher told his class, "teachers are more important to the school than the kids" and that's not the team I play on.

Re: Kent teachers: We're striking - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:40:25 -0000

He has to have a job since the School Board is not a paid position. And, good for him to own a business in our community. And I'm sorry, but mayor and school board are PUBLIC SERVICE positions. He has figured out being on the School Board and being Mayor are the BEST ways to change the world. And quite honestly, I don't know the man, but I wish all of us went to school board meetings, city council meetings, and actually gave two cents worth of our time to the community. That is the problem, not the overachieving public servants.

Re: Kent teachers: We're striking - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:30:50 -0000

Time and again, our state courts have ruled that based upon Washington common law, public employee strikes are illegal, including teacher strikes. Court rulings in two recent large teacher strikes, Marysville in 2003 and Issaquah in 2002, reiterated this point. In 2006, Attorney General McKenna issued AGO 2006 No. 3 also declaring “state and local public employees, including teachers, have no legally protected right to strike.”

Re: It's official, Kent teachers vote to go on strike - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:07:42 -0000

I agree with the committee thing. I'm sure we already have committees about comittees. However, I don't think the District has a quick enough fix to address the class size issue, so I'm very concerned about what's going to happen with that. I don't think the KEA has a specific recommendation either, so both sides are going to have to compromise on their expectations. With respect to community input, I would encourage parents to go to School Board meetings. They are open to the public and the public is invited to comment at every meeting. The meetings are every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7 pm. These meetings are even printed on the school calendars we get at the beginning of each school year. This is a provided forum for community input. I encourage all of us to get out there and use it. Also, so we parents and concerned citizens can better advocate, I would encourage the KEA to speak up earlier than later about concerns in the classroom. What we have here ultimately is a lack of communication and collaboration from us, the KEA, and the District. I'm standing here thinking, "what the heck is going on?" And you know what, I haven't been paying attention. Let's all use this crisis as an opportunity. Get out there, get informed, and use that voice!

Re: Mediation starts between Kent district, teachers - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:51:44 -0000

If it's not about money, then why does KEA request a six percent raise in the first year followed by a four percent raise in the second. I can't say that I honestly believe that it's not about money with numbers like those being demanded. If it's not about money, then KEA needs to drop the impossible 10% raise and get down to serious business.

Re: Kent schools, union still talking; strike vote is Wednesday - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:08:27 -0000

Well, the incurred cost is $16 million for a six percent, followed by a four percent raise. I think that's an overall salary increase, not just supplemental??

Re: Mediation starts between Kent district, teachers - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:37:28 -0000

I support more time with the kids. I do not support a six percent raise in the first year and a four percent raise in the second year. Maybe the teachers should go on a salary freeze (like me) or take some forced furlough days (like other public employees), and then request that the money instead be used to create more prep time and more time with the kids. As much as it may sound like I'm being antagonistic, I do not mean it that way at all. Really change the classroom. You know what needs to be done more than anyone. Go out there and get it done! Don't allow a strike to happen. Change your union leadership. Make your jobs easier and more rewarding, don't get greedy. No good will come of it.

Re: Mediation starts between Kent district, teachers - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:27:58 -0000

Do you know where to find where and who recommends a 3% savings. I thought it was 5%.

Re: Crowds throng Kent backpack giveaway; supplies run out - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:24:49 -0000

Again, how can the KEA be so bold as to request a six percent raise from a publicly funded school district when things like this are going on?

Re: Kent schools, union still talking; strike vote is Wednesday - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:18:39 -0000

Is the union aware we are in an economic crisis at the moment? Other public employees are taking forced furlough days! Requesting a six percent raise is UNACCEPTABLE. As a taxpayer who hasn't had a raise in two years and who has never had the privilege of a cost of living adjustment (COLA), I sadly cannot condone this behavior. There are amazing teachers in Kent School District and I know that they are not all buying this from union leadership. These teachers know what's going on. They see their students' parents standing outside Home Depot offering labor. They know the kid whose dad is going around mowing lawns for some extra cash since he lost his job. They know the student who lost her home to foreclosure. They know all of us - they are with our kids half the day. They cannot look at us in the face and ask this of us. It is simply not right. We would love to support our community's teachers but the teachers need to ask better of their representation. Don't led poor leadership overshadow real things that can be changed and won't cost millions in this economic downturn. We all see the six percent raise and don't get to the part where you are overworked and expected to do much in 7.5 hours. Teachers, turn out on August 26th and cast your ballot. Stand up for what you believe. Your community loves you. . .don't risk losing that by pulling our kids out of the classroom.

Re: Mediator starts work Wednesday on Kent teaching contract impasse - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:02:09 -0000

I have a question. . . is it true that KEA sent an e-mail to members telling them not to setup their classrooms before school starts.

Re: Mediation starts between Kent district, teachers - Kent Reporter

ShowMeTheData — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:52:18 -0000

hmm... homework? $240K is a huge salary, no doubt. But, this is what the CEO makes at my place of employment. This is not an obscene amount of money given the level of responsibility. It's a huge multiple of my household's annual income but neither my husband nor I are running a huge school district either. Also, the negotiator is paid for by the state (aka taxpayers). And, of course the district paid someone to conduct a salary study. How else would you expect to obtain data? KEA paid to do the same thing. Again, my place of employment has a salary consultant (and yes, we pay him) to collect data regarding salaries in the vicinity. And, as a parent, I want that letter in the mail warning me that I may have to reschedule our lives on the 31st. And, lastly, I AGREE 100% that the District needs to hold on to that 21 millon. At what point is it okay to drain our savings? No properly run business spends its savings. And, I've visited the KEA website. I see no actual data, just words. SHOW ME THE DATA