Comments on: Teachers leaflet at the Great City Schools conference http://ppsequity.org/2009/11/04/teachers-leaflet-at-the-great-city-schools-conference/ Covering the beat of Portland Public Schools Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:03:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Zarwen http://ppsequity.org/2009/11/04/teachers-leaflet-at-the-great-city-schools-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-42605 Zarwen Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:36:00 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1134#comment-42605 Eleven Directors?! Ten years ago, it was only three!!! Eleven Directors?! Ten years ago, it was only three!!!

]]> By: John B. Tang http://ppsequity.org/2009/11/04/teachers-leaflet-at-the-great-city-schools-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-42599 John B. Tang Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:47:33 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1134#comment-42599 I understand that with the reorg., there were more raises given to the central office senior management staff. PPS central office was supposed to save $1M due to this reorg. however, it is just to reshuffle staff and give more responsibilities to staff that Carole Smith favors. Some of the reshuffling made sense but some did not. Look at the chart again to see what does not make sense to bundle a group of departments together in order to promote a few. There are a few more sticking out points: 1. Did the reorg. really save $1M? One can look at the old chart and attach the salaries to it and then compare with the new chart. In addition, there are newly hired staff in the new organization chart. If the numbers did not add up, then PPS is defrauding the tax payers. 2. Peter Hamilton and Jean Fischer are still working. Why? Why are we rehiring retirees who already benefited from the system for many years and now help them double-dip? PERS is a ticking time bomb because sooner or later, it will not have enough money to pay out to retirees. This is a national epidemic. Where is Bobbie Regan in all of this decision making process? She was supposed to run on the platform of not giving out perks to highly paid PPS officials. 2. PPS HR department has 47 staff including 11 highly paid Directors. Beaverton School district has 2 and their enrollment is only a couple thousand students less than PPS. Why do we need 11 directors in HR. What do they all do? 3. Huge contracts given and potentially given to outside consulting firms or individuals. What measurements or outcome does PPS expect from these huge contracts. What expertise these consultants bring to PPS that cannot be found from existing staff? How does PPS evaluate needs, measure success and ensure equitable access to minority companies? These are issues related to accountability and fairness. During economic downtimes, these financial decisions cannot be taken slightly. Where is the accountability to the tax payers? I understand that with the reorg., there were more raises given to the central office senior management staff. PPS central office was supposed to save $1M due to this reorg. however, it is just to reshuffle staff and give more responsibilities to staff that Carole Smith favors. Some of the reshuffling made sense but some did not. Look at the chart again to see what does not make sense to bundle a group of departments together in order to promote a few. There are a few more sticking out points: 1. Did the reorg. really save $1M? One can look at the old chart and attach the salaries to it and then compare with the new chart. In addition, there are newly hired staff in the new organization chart. If the numbers did not add up, then PPS is defrauding the tax payers. 2. Peter Hamilton and Jean Fischer are still working. Why? Why are we rehiring retirees who already benefited from the system for many years and now help them double-dip? PERS is a ticking time bomb because sooner or later, it will not have enough money to pay out to retirees. This is a national epidemic. Where is Bobbie Regan in all of this decision making process? She was supposed to run on the platform of not giving out perks to highly paid PPS officials. 2. PPS HR department has 47 staff including 11 highly paid Directors. Beaverton School district has 2 and their enrollment is only a couple thousand students less than PPS. Why do we need 11 directors in HR. What do they all do? 3. Huge contracts given and potentially given to outside consulting firms or individuals. What measurements or outcome does PPS expect from these huge contracts. What expertise these consultants bring to PPS that cannot be found from existing staff? How does PPS evaluate needs, measure success and ensure equitable access to minority companies? These are issues related to accountability and fairness. During economic downtimes, these financial decisions cannot be taken slightly.

Where is the accountability to the tax payers?

]]> By: Bonnie Robb http://ppsequity.org/2009/11/04/teachers-leaflet-at-the-great-city-schools-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-42563 Bonnie Robb Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:36:54 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1134#comment-42563 Steve, I am pretty sure the district will push us to strike and then stop after 5 days. Then we are the bad guys for not caring about children by striking and they keep their PR spin going. Steve, I am pretty sure the district will push us to strike and then stop after 5 days. Then we are the bad guys for not caring about children by striking and they keep their PR spin going.

]]> By: Miss Merry Sunshine http://ppsequity.org/2009/11/04/teachers-leaflet-at-the-great-city-schools-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-42556 Miss Merry Sunshine Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:30:36 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1134#comment-42556 What ever game the PPS is playing with teachers is positively digusting and sickening! Why don't the board members put some pressure on the district, or are they supportive of the way negotiations have NOT progressed? I went to several negotiation sessions last year, in fact most of them. The PPS is capable of the dirtiest tactics in dragging this out, and not recognizing previous SACRIFICES. Why anyone, anyone, would choose to teach in the PPS is beyond me. I swear I am going to stand outside PSU with a sandwich board and talk to ed. students about where NOT to apply for a job....watch me!!!! What ever game the PPS is playing with teachers is positively digusting and sickening! Why don’t the board members put some pressure on the district, or are they supportive of the way negotiations have NOT progressed?

I went to several negotiation sessions last year, in fact most of them. The PPS is capable of the dirtiest tactics in dragging this out, and not recognizing previous SACRIFICES. Why anyone, anyone, would choose to teach in the PPS is beyond me.

I swear I am going to stand outside PSU with a sandwich board and talk to ed. students about where NOT to apply for a job….watch me!!!!

]]> By: marcia http://ppsequity.org/2009/11/04/teachers-leaflet-at-the-great-city-schools-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-42546 marcia Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:33:47 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1134#comment-42546 HOORAY! HOORAY! TELL IT LIKE IT IS! HOORAY! HOORAY! TELL IT LIKE IT IS!

]]> By: Susan http://ppsequity.org/2009/11/04/teachers-leaflet-at-the-great-city-schools-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-42513 Susan Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:38:07 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1134#comment-42513 A parents' strike might be more effective and meaningful. Choose a day when those who can keep their children home (that crazy Monday of Thanksgiving week)? Perhaps the Portland PTA might organize... A parents’ strike might be more effective and meaningful. Choose a day when those who can keep their children home (that crazy Monday of Thanksgiving week)? Perhaps the Portland PTA might organize…

]]> By: Steve Rawley http://ppsequity.org/2009/11/04/teachers-leaflet-at-the-great-city-schools-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-42501 Steve Rawley Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:42:53 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1134#comment-42501 A teachers' strike would be catastrophic on so many levels... it's the last thing PAT wants, especially since one of the sticking points is furlough days. Heck, maybe that's the district plan... force a strike, then after five days of teachers on the picket lines, decide to take the five furlough days out of their contract offer. A teachers’ strike would be catastrophic on so many levels… it’s the last thing PAT wants, especially since one of the sticking points is furlough days.

Heck, maybe that’s the district plan… force a strike, then after five days of teachers on the picket lines, decide to take the five furlough days out of their contract offer.

]]> By: pdxmomto2 http://ppsequity.org/2009/11/04/teachers-leaflet-at-the-great-city-schools-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-42494 pdxmomto2 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:56:57 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1134#comment-42494 GO TEACHERS! I know this will sound radical and unpopular, but I for one would support a strike or other direct action! GO TEACHERS! I know this will sound radical and unpopular, but I for one would support a strike or other direct action!

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