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I am waiting for someone from the Syosset School District to come up with a way to take credit for making Natalie Portman's Academy Award possible and to use it as a "talking point" for the absolute importance of ever-increasing property taxes in Syosset.
Funny, I don't remember her thanking the teacher's union or superintendent in particular during her acceptance speech. Probably those anti-union broadcast networks that cut to an evil capitalist commercial because they actually like making a profit, so evil!
Good point, I would be surprised if the school boards hire a separate lawyer for negotiations with the superintendent but will defer to your experience. Where would a school board get a recommendation for a law firm to negotiate the superintendent's salary?
No, I think you've got my last response mixed up. I said that the supt hires his own lawyer for salary negotiations. The board uses the district lawyer to represent their wishes.
Of course a supt. can't use a lawyer retained by the district to negotiate the contract to review his/her negotiated personal contract. That would be thoroughly and obviously unethical
The coziness that develops between the district superintendent and the school district lawyer who writes the contract (and any/all extensions and renewals) is unhealthy for the taxpayers. That same lawyer (except perhaps in the district you are familiar with) is the recipient of litigation (and subsequent fees) recommended to the board by the superintendent. That same lawyer, of course, is part of the tentacled network known as the 'school district lawyer gang' that has become famous for churning needless litigation and cooperating with superintendents at every turn.
It goes without saying that many assistant superintendents have similar personal contracts negotiated with similar lawyers and the opportunity for conflicts is readily apparent at a moment's reflection.
I would like to believe your representation that boards turn to outside firms for actions against superintendents. In the first case this should not be necessary because the board's lawyer is supposed to work for the board (ha-ha) so there is no conflict. In the second case, this (action against supts) does not happen very frequently because it is against the interest of the school lawyers to see their cash cows depart the district.
Finally, is it just me or have the school boards become publicists and agents for their overpaid and mostly inept superintendents?
Again, in my district, while using the district lawyer, the board determines what they want in the supt's contract. Perhaps the lawyer gives some information on what the "going rate" is, whether some of the board's ideas are legal or do-able etc. But he negotiates what the board wants, not what he says they should get!
Also, in my district, the ass't supts and several other positions are NOT contractual. They get any raises, benefits and responsibilities approved by the board each year - with no guarantees.
Finally, I would say that yes, if a board has a supt they like and feel they have done a great job for the district, they most certainly will say so. I don't believe it goes to the level of acting as an agent or publicist however! Overpaid and inept - no, they wouldn't be getting the same attention - yet obviously, it was that board who overpaid them in the first place!
100's (and hunderds) of teachers making over $120k per district! Insane. I love a good teacher but kindergarten teachers making $115k!?! Where else in the country?! Where else in the world?!?! It boggles the mind.
I was a Kindergarten teacher for 20 years in a private school, never made more than 45 k but I find your post insulting. Kindergarten teachers are NYC certified teachers with MA degress and higher. Were you aware that you learn to read, write and do math (yep, the real stuff) in Kindergarten now? Are you going to argue with me that those things are not important? I loved the little ones, but if you think for one minute teaching 5 year olds to read and write is easy, you are sadly mistaken. It is one tough job, and I could assure you, most on this board do not have a clue what it is like. Now as I work as a sub in area schools, I can assure you Kindergarten is tougher to teach than 2nd grade and HS, where the kids have calmed down already. As far as the 110k salaries, we do live on LI and why is it that NO ONE questions construction workers (who have NO education for the most part) or other workders like that make high salaries, and some do. Why not rip them apart. Maybe I do not believe my BIL in air conditioning should make a 6 figure salary and construction workers should not be bringing in 80k imo.( I personally do not believe they should be_) Teachers have a harder job than most and also more education than most.
These salaries are an obsene misuse of taxpayer dollars. However they're reall just a smokscreen.The real problem is teachers salaries, benefits & pension contributions which takes up about 75% of all school budgets. The typical top pay teacher on LI costs taxpayers about $1000.00 ( counting salary, benefits & pension contributions)for each day they work.
By the way that workday in a typical HS involves less then 4 hrs actually teaching kids.
Elementary teachers work longer days than that. When I taught full time in Elementary, it was an 8 hour plus day, now that I sub it is a 7 hour day. Can't speak for the HS teachers, but I know Elementary is working pretty hard.
I was a Kindergarten teacher for 20 years in a private school, never made more than 45 k but I find your post insulting. Kindergarten teachers are NYC certified teachers with MA degress and higher. Were you aware that you learn to read, write and do math (yep, the real stuff) in Kindergarten now? Are you going to argue with me that those things are not important? I loved the little ones, but if you think for one minute teaching 5 year olds to read and write is easy, you are sadly mistaken. It is one tough job, and I could assure you, most on this board do not have a clue what it is like.
Yeah, I'm with you here. For the life of me, though, I cannot understand paying gym teachers 120k, especially when you see how physically (un)fit so many kids are today.
I was a Kindergarten teacher for 20 years in a private school, never made more than 45 k but I find your post insulting. Kindergarten teachers are NYC certified teachers with MA degress and higher. Were you aware that you learn to read, write and do math (yep, the real stuff) in Kindergarten now? Are you going to argue with me that those things are not important? I loved the little ones, but if you think for one minute teaching 5 year olds to read and write is easy, you are sadly mistaken. It is one tough job, and I could assure you, most on this board do not have a clue what it is like. Now as I work as a sub in area schools, I can assure you Kindergarten is tougher to teach than 2nd grade and HS, where the kids have calmed down already. As far as the 110k salaries, we do live on LI and why is it that NO ONE questions construction workers (who have NO education for the most part) or other workders like that make high salaries, and some do. Why not rip them apart. Maybe I do not believe my BIL in air conditioning should make a 6 figure salary and construction workers should not be bringing in 80k imo.( I personally do not believe they should be_) Teachers have a harder job than most and also more education than most.
Construction workers -- can you make any more of a blanket statement? As for your deflection toward the trades -- people have an option and choice -- we can choose to hire your BIL for CAC, look into another commpany or opt to go without. We can shop companies for prices when we want to upgrade a kitchen or build a dormer. With the schools -- we don't have a choice but to pay our taxes and thus teachers salaries. People are starting to make noise as opposed to be complacent little sheep paying through the nose for myriad layers of administration as well as teachers. The public school Kindergarten teacher who has a few little darlings who don't come out reading and writing will still have her job the following year. The construction company which screws up one person's house will have a lawsuit and a bad reputation; word of mouth can make or break any small business.
Most LI students who have had the benefit of preK have come to you with the ability for basic sight reading, number identification and some students have the ability to identify letters and sounds -- thereby making your job easier. We've paid for pre-school to prepare our children in advance of coming into your classroom. Parents who both have to work have children in day care programs which have intro to reading basics taught as well as the previously mentioned skills. Would you prefer we didn't and instead turn over a group of completely unprepared children each year?
You've worked in the private sector for a pittance compared to the public school teacher with the same experience. Did your lower pay impact your performance, or did you give your students everything that your much higher paid public school contemporaries gave theirs?
Elementary teachers work longer days than that. When I taught full time in Elementary, it was an 8 hour plus day, now that I sub it is a 7 hour day. Can't speak for the HS teachers, but I know Elementary is working pretty hard.
Our elelmentary school day runs 9:20-3:40 for K-6. 6 hours and 20 minutes of which the children have lunch & recess plus daily specials. Their teachers are not teaching the full 6 hours and 20 minutes. Yes, there is some set up time, but even if they are in the building 7 hours, the time spent with the students engaged in the actual practice of teaching is approximately 5 hours.
The six figure K teacher is doing pretty well in our district considering s/he's hands-on working for 30 hours a week for a total of 180 days.
As for the 'planning and grading' -- if they're only hands-on working for 5 hours, are these K teachers really planning and grading 3 hours each day in order to work 8 hours like the rest of us?
I was a Kindergarten teacher for 20 years in a private school, never made more than 45 k but I find your post insulting. Kindergarten teachers are NYC certified teachers with MA degress and higher. Were you aware that you learn to read, write and do math (yep, the real stuff) in Kindergarten now? Are you going to argue with me that those things are not important? I loved the little ones, but if you think for one minute teaching 5 year olds to read and write is easy, you are sadly mistaken. It is one tough job, and I could assure you, most on this board do not have a clue what it is like. Now as I work as a sub in area schools, I can assure you Kindergarten is tougher to teach than 2nd grade and HS, where the kids have calmed down already. As far as the 110k salaries, we do live on LI and why is it that NO ONE questions construction workers (who have NO education for the most part) or other workders like that make high salaries, and some do. Why not rip them apart. Maybe I do not believe my BIL in air conditioning should make a 6 figure salary and construction workers should not be bringing in 80k imo.( I personally do not believe they should be_) Teachers have a harder job than most and also more education than most.
Oh what a crock. I have almost taught my son reading and writing part time from home. My district has 1/2 day KG and loads of "clusters" which add even more overpaid "teachers" who do arts and crafts projects (patterns?) and "motor" with my son. I am not an idiot nor am I insensitive. I work as a facilitator who SAVES taxpayers money and helps teachers keep their cushy jobs. I make 33% less than my son's KG teacher without half the benefits or protections. Jobs should pay what the market bears, not what the union can strongarm out of complacent boards and self-interested voting blocs. There is plenty of blame to go around, but on LI, it would do teachers well to keep their yaps shut and take the excellent situation they have with humility, not spout about how "tough a job it is" and how "educated" they have to be. I work with hundreds of them. Half can't fashion a decent email or even manage a spreadsheet. If they had to go out in the private sector they'd be using that "education" to sell cosmetics at Macy's. The good ones seem to realize they have a good thing and are happy to make an above average living doing something they "love." My friend's who are terachers in the city make 33% less than on LI. Are you telling me they have it easier? Again, what a crock!
I was a Kindergarten teacher for 20 years in a private school, never made more than 45 k but I find your post insulting. Kindergarten teachers are NYC certified teachers with MA degress and higher. Were you aware that you learn to read, write and do math (yep, the real stuff) in Kindergarten now? Are you going to argue with me that those things are not important? I loved the little ones, but if you think for one minute teaching 5 year olds to read and write is easy, you are sadly mistaken. It is one tough job, and I could assure you, most on this board do not have a clue what it is like. Now as I work as a sub in area schools, I can assure you Kindergarten is tougher to teach than 2nd grade and HS, where the kids have calmed down already. As far as the 110k salaries, we do live on LI and why is it that NO ONE questions construction workers (who have NO education for the most part) or other workders like that make high salaries, and some do. Why not rip them apart. Maybe I do not believe my BIL in air conditioning should make a 6 figure salary and construction workers should not be bringing in 80k imo.( I personally do not believe they should be_) Teachers have a harder job than most and also more education than most.
We only give a rat's behind about people whose overpaid, overbenefitted, and overpensioned status causes us EVER INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES.
I don't care what anyone is making in the private sector because it is not being strongarmed out of me in the form of property taxes, get it?
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