Disqus - Latest Comments for teachershelper

Re: 'I was so ecstatic.' Re-elected Kent Mayor Cooke wants to get on with city work - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:05:24 -0000

Thank goodness! Berrios can't get us through a strike let alone a flood, econmic downturn, etc.

Re: Union files grievance against Kent School District alleging low staffing - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:55:11 -0000

And it still appears that any viewpoint contrary to yours (as a lover of all things KSD as golden) must be wrong. Well versed, KentDadof2 as always. Amazing thing, though. When you provide data to a District Board meeting, you should have the footnotes. They do teach "Show your work" in schools. Same thing, differant subject as Class Size database they had to pull off the KSD site for inaccuracies during negotiations that had stalled.

Re: Kent teachers reach tentative with district; Membership vote scheduled for Monday morning - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:18:05 -0000

My wife was crying at the rally when Lisa Brackin Johnson announced it. Thanks to all that pressured both KEA and KSD. Now pray for a vote of yes by the teachers.

Re: Teachers chose their profession; they shouldn't complain - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:09:24 -0000

Have you actually looked at the concerns? How do you expect quality if you don't budget right for it? Running away to another job is NOT the answer. That is the PROBLEM. We are losing quality in our schools and Administration needs to address that via the concerns brought to them by the people in the trenches.

Re: District moves first day of school to Tuesday; Union says it won't return without an agreement - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:58:49 -0000

Attend KEA 6:30 Sunday night rally

KEA members and school supporters around the region are invited to a 6:30 p.m. rally at Town Square Plaza (also known as “Marble Park”) at Second Avenue and West Smith Street, across from the downtown library.

Re: District moves first day of school to Tuesday; Union says it won't return without an agreement - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:32:17 -0000

I think they are trying to negotiate an amnesty, not a "Please pay my parking fines" type of situation. Now they may have some bum information...we will have to see.

Signed,
Proudly Supporting Education $200 Dollars a Day

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

teachershelper — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:23:47 -0000

It became somewhat personal when KSD did not settle a contract before the beginning of school. The stall tatics forced teachers to decide if they would EVER get a contract signed (did the news miss that the had just finished the last past due negotitians on the previous one so teachers had little good will towards that hope). By forcing this to the end of the contract, the teachers had to make a hard decision and that was to Strike since it appeared the Administration was going to use the law to their favor.

I ask...when you negotiate, and there are not deadlines, and no penalties, what becomes of things? If one side does not agree to meet, you cannot compel them to. If one side decides to recycle contract language and only change a few words, you cannot compel them to bargain more.

How many times do you have to be kicked before you decide you don't like it anymore?

Re: District moves first day of school to Tuesday; Union says it won't return without an agreement - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:13:41 -0000

Gee and I am sure the 3 agreements to give teachers boxes and the one agreement allowing the contract to be copied and have page numbers (accounting for over 20% of the agreed to items tentatively) shows just how well thought out KSD bargaining has been. Oh the majority of the other agreements...yeah to make things equal to what State Law requires.

Re: District moves first day of school to Tuesday; Union says it won't return without an agreement - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:09:59 -0000

A good amount of teachers I know live here too Kentdadof2 (Kent, Renton, Covington all areas where they have KSD).
A good amount of teachers have families.
A good amount of those teachers families go to KSD schools, making them concerned parents as well.
A good amount of thoe Teacher Parents are being left out of the concerned parent meetings our school boards are doing instead of public meetings.

Re: STRIKE UPDATE: Teachers ordered back to school by Monday; union delivers new contract - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:57:34 -0000

Mentioned same thing last night at parent/teacher meeting that the KEA site needs refinement. The folks working on it are volunteers. If KSD already is doing it, I see no worries as they have to public disclosure by law. Let them do the leg work of the raw data. The interprations on both sides is where we need to use our own brains.

And it is posted at KSD site now. Just was reading it. Get a cup of coffee and a comfy chair. It isnt just 1 section proposal, but a total contract proposal again modifed. Still not sure myself how I interpret this thing to what one side says to the other yet. May have to get a second cup.

http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/K...

Re: STRIKE UPDATE: Teachers ordered back to school by Monday; union delivers new contract - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:28:19 -0000

Class Size, Time with Students, Compensation was what my wife told me from the beginning. The union has dropped the last one from things I have heard to just asking for small cost of living increase but will still rank around 80th in state,

Re: STRIKE UPDATE: Teachers ordered back to school by Monday; union delivers new contract - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:22:34 -0000

Might re-read the KSD Sept. 8th Class size once again. No class limits at Middle or High School, only thing they will do is add in Para's and 3 extra FTE's across the entire district to help as needed.
A parent in say Lake Youngs is fine with class size, but they don't have much of a problem compared to the schools their kids will be going to later for Middle and High.

...And that is just what they report on the KSD webpage, they haven't even published the orginal full contract language so we can review if their are any gotcha's like they have every other.

Re: STRIKE UPDATE: Teachers ordered back to school by Monday; union delivers new contract - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:55:00 -0000

Actually I believe the Union set the date and time to try and have something worked out in advance of the hearing. The timing is all a little short here due to the holiday bargaining that went until 6a Tuesday A.M. on a marathon session.
The Mediators from the state let both parties rest, regroup, think and get proposals together and then met. KEA submitted that new proposal on Thurs a.m. before court to Administration (KSD).

Re: STRIKE UPDATE: Teachers ordered back to school by Monday; union delivers new contract - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:42:53 -0000

In a parent meeting I attended last night I paraphrase some of the teachers, "When we get done with negotions, ...and they will end...., we know we will still be 80th in the state for compensation, and we are OK with that. This is about Class Size, and time to prepare".

I ,like you, am waiting on the update to see what KSD rejected as stated it was 277K below the districts own numbers. Would like to see if there was some hidden gotchas the Union was trying to put in, or if the administration isn't really cared about the money like they claim after all. Hope the KSD will post it later this a.m. Not there now.

Re: STRIKE UPDATE: Mediators suspend bargaining until after Thursday court date - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:35:44 -0000

That is not even what KEA had requested (overload pay)
http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/K...

However, Overload Pay is done in other districts to compensate the teacher for the extra work and hours they need to expend to support the class size as well as it is also an "incentive" to the district to not have to pay them this amount, but re-assigning class loads or giving Para Help. This is common in many districts in our area.

I am really curious where you think you are getting your insider information from on the teachers union. The website is really clear and the same messages are being provided to my wife. Of course she doesn't trust the union 100% either (when did you ever trust without verify). That is called an informed decision. Take in both sides, evaluate the information on it's merits and bias and make your own call.

www.kentschools.org
for one point

http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/K...
For the other

Re: STRIKE UPDATE: Mediators suspend bargaining until after Thursday court date - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:25:23 -0000

I wasn't being secretative. I don't know. I gave you the resources that are parents organizations. These parent meetings are just that. They asked the union to come and speak to them. Not the other way. They also want to speak to the district and are via Emails, and Telephone calls to the Board I am told. The wanted to also speak at the Board Meeting, but that was cancelled. I expressed the fact that telecom and email are informal and impersonal mediums to the board, and that I thought they should have held their meeting.

As for you analysis of the law.... uh, they didn't volunteer. They get paid like any other employee. It is a strike against Administration, not the public. I won't even comment on your jumping to conclusions about teachers patriotism toward democracy.

Re: STRIKE UPDATE: Mediators suspend bargaining until after Thursday court date - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:55:24 -0000

There are various PTA meetings being organized at all schools. Get with your local one to stay in the loop is my suggestion.

As for the law, I don't agree that the law is just. I do agree with you that it is a law and a judge ruled that Teachers apply to that law as State employees. After that it is up to the individual in the voting and actions they perform as member of the KEA and the judge. I am sure we will all see that outcome later today (and I am not wearing any rose colored glasses or holding my breathe that the law will look at the justness of the imposed law).

Re: STRIKE UPDATE: Mediators suspend bargaining until after Thursday court date - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:33:29 -0000

We call that the other side in a conversation. You have your views, they have there's. I don't like yours, you don't like mine. Welcome to a America.

Maybe the below explains a bit of the confusion as well:

Seems the reasons for the school board not meeting may diverge:

"A recent example: there was originally a Kent school board meeting scheduled
for today, but it was cancelled at the last minute. When asked why, Jim
Berrios, the board president, responded, "We didn't have enough content to
hold a meeting." (This was a direct quote, via cell phone, from Jim Berrios
to the organizer of the parent meeting.)"

And the reply I got from Davies, Chris was:

Due to the fact that
nearly all the district personnel associated with the board
meetings/presentations/business are either on the bargaining team or in
support thereof, district business has been put aside so that we can focus
on getting a resolution with our bargaining as soon as possible.

Re: Kent teachers' strike is about money - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:47:47 -0000

1)
I quote from KEA website:

The district implies negotiations are going well with 16 contract proposals already in hand. Take a look at the significance of the items the district has been willing to resolve durng five months of negotiations, and gauge whether the Kent School Board has actually been willing to address the key issues behind this strike.
http://www.kentschools.org/...

2) Contract discussions have been ongoing since April... 5 months to grant the teachers equality in items that are state laws. 4 Items alone are for Boxes, Tape, Moving Help, and Page Numbers on their contracts!

Re: Teachers defy court order; So what happens next? - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:20:55 -0000

Now what they really have agreed to:
http://www.kentschools.org/...

Re: Teachers defy court order; So what happens next? - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:18:47 -0000

Uh, these are teachers, not construction or other laborers. The aren't used to walking up and down holding a sign up (can we say cramp?) in the elements. They are normally squating, Kneeling, coaxing, Cutting out, Pasting in a room with children. Let's see how long you last in a new environment.

They have moved from the schools during the day to busy corners to get the word out. They have combined at schools that are more public than those buried in communities. They rotate around duties such as speaking to civic groups, working on posters, going dooor to door. Oh they are out there.

The 74% vote shows the resolve.

Re: Teachers defy court order; So what happens next? - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:54:04 -0000

I quote:
The purpose of board meetings is for the board to conduct its business in public; however, the board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in its meetings. In order to permit fair and orderly dialogue, the board provides a period during the meeting when the public may provide input on agenda items or comment on non-agenda items. Click here for Policy 1430, Audience Participation.

In addition to attending a board meeting, you can voice your opinion by:
Calling the superintendent's office, 253-373-7701, or members of the school board.
Writing the board or superintendent at 12033 SE 256th Street, A200, Kent WA 98030.

And further:

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

The board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in its meetings. In order to permit fair and orderly dialogue, the board will provide a period during the meeting when the public may provide input on agenda items or comment on non-agenda items.

Audience participation is not intended as a forum for public debate. During the meeting, the board will listen to, but normally not respond to, comments from visitors. Questions raised at a board meeting by visitors speaking to an issue may require further investigation and subsequent response.

The president may interrupt or terminate an individual's statement when it is too lengthy, obscene, or irrelevant. Abusive public comments personally directed, towards staff members will be not be tolerated. The board as a whole will have the final decision in determining the appropriateness of all such rulings.

Adopted By Board: 11/24/93
Revised By Board: 02/28/01
Revised By Board: 04/13/05

Gee I think that might officially fall into the limiting of Free Speach and the Limiting of Parents Voices. I wonder why we have to go find members of our School Board and Super. to discuss our concerns. This is public policy folks. You cannot hide, you must listen as your appointed duties and act on their wishes.

Re: Judge orders Kent teachers back to school; union to decide on action this afternoon - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:09:01 -0000

Oh I am sure it makes a ton of sense to compensate our Superindent more than the Gov. of WA and also the Vice President of the USA. No place at all that we could look to trim the fat and accomdate our children of the community. How much have they spent on postage rather than allocating towards negotitaions. Legal Counsel, Postage to send out 4 or 5 letters now to everyone. Nah, I am sure there isn't a speck of money that could be moved around for Class size.

Oh and meetings... Yeah I can see where canceling a meeting costs soooo much. Look, click in Outlook, meeting gone. Whooa that was expensive.

Re: Judge orders Kent teachers back to school; union to decide on action this afternoon - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:30:28 -0000

Gee and I am sure none of the 1800 Union members and their families, children etc. aren't enduring the same hardship of having to modify future vacation plans. Teachers aren't people are they? They are just a lower class citizen who doesn't deserve to have any rights with their employers and have even fewer with WA legistlation that allows districts to stonewall. In case it wasn't obvious...that was sarcasm.
When will parents realize that the folks working with the kids...know what is going on at the schools and not tolerate this Big Business in our education system here in Kent!

Join the rally occuring right now from 11a to 1p in front of the KSD adminstration office to see how many parents support and teachers support the cause. It is PACKED up there, I just drove by.

Re: DEVELOPING STORY: Legal decision on Kent teachers' strike is imminent - Kent Reporter

teachershelper — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:34:36 -0000

The law is what is the law is. The judge in her statements stated the same. She may (or may not) have like to pass the injunction, but she did her job and I applaud her even if I do personally feel the whole law is flawed. I will be trying to work with elected officials this next year to allow a balance or rights between the state employers and it's employees in regards to mediation. Maybe Binding Arbitration is going to be the trick. Maybe they need to look at a 50% get tough date with some sort of penalties for each side. I do not claim to know it all. I just know from this district and all the others in this state that are going through this same issue, something must change. Here is to lawmakers making laws that are equatable. Right now, a school district (regardless of if we are discussing KSD) can stall, stall, stall, stall and Teacher's unions cannot strike without doing so illegally. Where is the incentive for the districts to bargain, other than good faith. My belief in "good faith" bargaining was burst the first time buying a car, and now with KSD Vs KEA 2009. Thanks Vargas.