Our View: Three for Rio Hondo College Board

I am hopeful that Mr. Sigeist will now learn who he is running against. He is so clueless that he thinks he is running against Andre Quintero.

We are not voting for Salazar. She is part to blame for Rio Hondo getting a black eye. Who wants some one who isn't aware of where the college is going? She needs to get the boot.

Glad to see Queentero is around Rio Hondo. Doesn't he live in the Inland Empire, but running for Mayor of that hole called El Monte?

Let me get this straight, Tribune. You say we should build a building, even if we don't need it, because we pay for a bond. We have two empty school sites, and will probably have more next year where we could hold classes. Why not just say....Gee, we don't need a building, so we won't spend the money, and we can pay off some of the debt.

I am the president of the Faculty Association for Rio Hondo College. The information in the article is right on point. We have endorsed the same candidates as the paper. One bit of further information I would like to point out relates to the president's contract. In addition to granting the president a $30,000 raise last year, the Board of Trustees also increased the president's compensation by an additional $200,000 or so just this past July. You can find out the details at the URL below:
http://rhcfa.org/rhcfa.org/Issues/Entries/200...

Michael wrote:

Let me get this straight, Tribune. You say we should build a building, even if we don't need it, because we pay for a bond. We have two empty school sites, and will probably have more next year where we could hold classes. Why not just say....Gee, we don't need a building, so we won't spend the money, and we can pay off some of the debt.

You are right Michael. The real problem is not the building itself. We have bond money that is available to pay for the construction. The real problem is that the college will own a building that needs to be staffed and maintained forever. This will not come out of the bond money, but out of general funds. Instead of renting space cheaply, we will have to take money away from instruction to keep the building going.

Yes!!! The Daily News finally got this right! East Whittier, the students, staff and faculty deserve a board candidate such as Madeline Shapiro!!! It is so nice to see that daily news is seeing what is truly happening on the hill and that we, the community, deserve better leadership!!

Mr. Wetsman: Didn't you get lifetime medical benefits after only 5 years? Please share with the public how miserably interest based bargaining failed at Rio Hondo.

Truth in Advertising wrote:

Mr. Wetsman: Didn't you get lifetime medical benefits after only 5 years? Please share with the public how miserably interest based bargaining failed at Rio Hondo.

Yes, let's have "Truth in Advertising" at the college. The staff at Rio Hondo College wait 15 years to receive lifetime benefits and must retire from the college. And let us not be deceived that the this is something that is given to the staff....NO! That is not the case!! The classified staff and faculty have given up raises, COLA, and other benefits in order to have this benefit. The classified staff give up 2% of their salary EVERY YEAR to have this benefit. What does the administration give up to get this benefit??

The 15 years applies only to new employees. And those benefits are well deserved. Still waiting for a response from Mr. Wetsman.

Go Shapiro!! We need her on that board!!!

Truth in Advertising wrote:

The 15 years applies only to new employees. And those benefits are well deserved. Still waiting for a response from Mr. Wetsman.

I am happy to clear up the issue of lifetime medical benefits for full-time faculty members. I was hired in 2000 and was eligible for lifetime medical benefits after 5 years. HOWEVER, in 2005, the faculty voted to extend the eligibility period to 15 years and to require those hired starting in the Fall of 2005 to have to pay a percentage of their salaries for 15 years to receive such a benefit. So, my vesting period was tripled and I am now about 5 years away from receiving lifetime medical benefits. In other words, the 15 years applies to all full-time faculty members, not just new ones.

In January 2009, the faculty decided that requiring new faculty to pay for lifetime medical benefits was not fair. We decided to trade off our current health care plan for a less expensive one in exchange for granting all full-time faculty (those hired both before and after 2005) the opportunity for lifetime benefits once they reach 15 years of service. The plan will save about $700,000 per year and will cost those who switched to the less expensive plan (myself included) more in out-of-pocket costs.

Staff at RHC wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, let's have "Truth in Advertising" at the college. The staff at Rio Hondo College wait 15 years to receive lifetime benefits and must retire from the college. And let us not be deceived that the this is something that is given to the staff....NO! That is not the case!! The classified staff and faculty have given up raises, COLA, and other benefits in order to have this benefit. The classified staff give up 2% of their salary EVERY YEAR to have this benefit. What does the administration give up to get this benefit??

Just to clarify things, new administrators (I believe those hired starting in the Fall of 2005) can receive lifetime medical benefits if they give up 10% of their salaries for 5 years. Using this rate, the Dr. Martinez should have paid over $100,000 for such benefits. However, this was part of the compensation enhancement that was given to the president in July of this year.

Mr. Wetsman:

When did you complain about acquiring property in El Monte? I guess it takes you a while to raise an objection, like waiting a year and a half before you complain about an increase which you admit is in line with what other Presidents get paid. Who do you think you are fooling? You are a lousy President, hopefully you are a better teacher.

Mr. Wetsman:

Maybe you should ask staff and find out whether Mr. Martinez has to pay the $100,000. I'd be curious to find out.

Truth in Advertising wrote:

The 15 years applies only to new employees. And those benefits are well deserved. Still waiting for a response from Mr. Wetsman.

Not true. ALL faculty and staff, new and old, have to have 15 years of service AND retire from the college after the age of 57 or 62.

Excited to see that the Daily News had endorsed fresh voices to the Rio Hondo Board of Trustees! Wish you would have also endorsed Crystal Chavez, but for the time being I will be happy with Madeline Shapiro and Norma Garcia. Let's hope the voters agree!!!

Cynical wrote:

Mr. Wetsman:
When did you complain about acquiring property in El Monte? I guess it takes you a while to raise an objection, like waiting a year and a half before you complain about an increase which you admit is in line with what other Presidents get paid. Who do you think you are fooling? You are a lousy President, hopefully you are a better teacher.

For the record: Mr. Wetsman is an OUTSTANDING Faculty Association President!! It has been a long time since the faculty have had a voice at Rio, he is a wonderful advocate for the students, staff and faculty. He is well respected, professional, and willing to stand up and say the truth (and back it up), even if that truth is unpopular to those in "power". Go Adam!! Let's hope this election changes the status quo at Rio Hondo. If we are not here for the students, we do not deserve to be here at all.

So happy to see the Daily News endorse Madeline Shapiro. I have had two children that had the pleasure of having Ms. Shapiro as a teacher, and we loved her. She is caring, thoughtful, tough, patient, and a true advocate for her students and parents. I think she will do an wonderful job at Rio Hondo on the board. My kids will be going there in a few short years, and I am happy to know that she will be there advocating for them!