teachers

I am new at Ridge Central and just moved from another town and was shocked to hear that the PTA has only about one or two teachers and Mrs. B involved with the program. Anyone know a good reason why this is? The parents also do there best but get nothing but problems from the teachers.. Wow, I really think that is sad.

I certainly can speak to that. The teachers in the District have gone through a lot with the Administration and School Board over the past few years. The support of the community and parents has never been there. The teachers care and would be involved. Seek them out, send them a special get involved note and I assure you they would welcome working with you! As parents though you all need to be aware of what is going on administratively at the building. The climate is not productive.

Your information about the teachers who are involved in the PTA is completely inaccurate. A majority of the teachers(at least at Ridge Central) are a part of the PTA. They take part in the fundraisers that are supported by the PTA as well as donate goods and services for the Fun Fair that they have put on in the past. It is comments such as these that are posted negatively on these forums that makes teachers wonder why they should even bother.

Oh, so teachers read this forum? Let us not forget the district wide strike a few years back! Since then everything changed.

I'm not siding with the teachers or disagreeing with you but be fair in the blame because it needs to be balanced. Check out the Finley Loss post and read the part 1 and 2 along with a few others and you will see that admin and the board are equal in the decline of the district. Stirkes are clear sign of lack of communication and respect on both sides. We as taxpayers suffer but need to be aware of the deception that is not always reeported.

who knew wrote:

Oh, so teachers read this forum? Let us not forget the district wide strike a few years back! Since then everything changed.

For someone who just moved here how is that you are so in tuned to a strike which you were not here for and knowledge of how the district was before it. Let me guess you talked with people and have an excellent understanding how it use to be. No I'm not a teacher but just feel you are not honest about just moving here or so naive that you hear just a little and think you understand the big picture.

who knew wrote:

Oh, so teachers read this forum? Let us not forget the district wide strike a few years back! Since then everything changed.

who knew wrote:

Oh, so teachers read this forum? Let us not forget the district wide strike a few years back! Since then everything changed.

Please let's not forget the strike...and who is to blame for that...it takes two to tango!

Skeptical wrote:

For someone who just moved here how is that you are so in tuned to a strike which you were not here for and knowledge of how the district was before it. Let me guess you talked with people and have an excellent understanding how it use to be. No I'm not a teacher but just feel you are not honest about just moving here or so naive that you hear just a little and think you understand the big picture. <quoted text>

Hey INTELLIGENT one (Skeptical)... two different posts and two different people. I was here for the strike and the trickle down effect as I am a long time resident. New parent at Central obviously is not a long time resident, so quit accusing of dishonesty until you pay attention to the posts.

You are correct so I really need your forgivness. So long time maybe you can elaborate on your statement for the trickle down effect. What changed? There has been one other strike here ages ago I was here for were you? The dishonesty goes to the adminstration and the board that brought about the change. The teachers who headed up the fight have been here a long time. Did they suddenly decide they wanted to be paid fat contracts after 20 something years? This district rates low in the state for teacher salaries but not the administrators. Let me say the only trickle down that came was that the board had their pride hurt and seek vengance against the teachers which has been evident in the turnout of good staff. I do hope teachers read this board as well as others and realize the next time they are up for a contract people may stand up and ask why suddenly after this many years does the board have trouble communicating and working towards a viable solution. This district is in finacial trouble and they will try to turn it on the teachers low paying contracts not for the misuse of funds. I don't know what your agenda "long time" but I assure you taxes will go up to cover the bills for poor decisions. I will try and be more accurate in my reading of posts for no other reason because I do not want to let such intelligent people like you down again. We are lucky to have such a long time, intelligent citizen like you. Keep up the good fight. I'm going to doctors so I fix my attention defecit disorder

I don't konow all the details of the strike year contract. What I do know being a union member myselfis that UNIONS DON'T STRIKE FOR MONEY. Now let me clarify. Yes our pensions and healthcare benefits do cost and we will do what we need to to keep them intact but typically it is not worth a strike to put a few extra dollars on our paychecks. There are also many aspects to union contracts to keeps the workplace fair, safe,healthy etc, and to protect our rights as employees. When contractors/boards try to take them away we will fight.

By Bill Zettler

Is $54,000 per year too much or too little for a grade-school teacher in Grayslake? In a recent letter a husband said his wife's $54,000 salary with two degrees and 10 years' experience was "far below private industry salaries." I disagree.

First of all, let's not confuse a master's degree in education with a master's degree in nuclear physics. As everyone knows, advanced degrees in education are designed of, by and for the teachers for only one purpose - higher salaries.

In the parallel universe that is our public school system, salaries are based on pseudo education credits, not on performance. Three recent examples include visiting a feed grain dealer, visiting a dairy farm and, my own personal favorite, going to Arlington Park racetrack to study probability theory. Each of these two-day so-called courses was worth two credits and result in pay increases for the teachers. Imagine putting "visited dairy farm" on your resume and expecting a higher salary because of it.

Let's assume that Mr. Husband would agree that a 40 percent increase, to $75,000 a year, would put his wife at or near "private industry salaries." That would put her $300-a-day teacher salary just slightly lower than her $312-a-day private industry salary because in the real world people work 12 months or 240 days a year not nine months or 180 days a year.

Superintendents approve or disapprove courses taken by teachers. If a superintendent approved a visit to Arlington Park Race Track then shame on the administration and school board for allowing that “Field Trip” to even be a consideration. The strike that happened in the Ridge 4 years ago is what it is. There is a CURRENT problem in the district (see Finley’s loss) that need attention. Also, when there are problems or disagreements between teachers/Unions and administration the district lawyers are called in. Who foots the bill? The tax payers do! When grievances are filed or a ULP, the district lawyers are called in. Who foots the bill? The tax payers do! When teachers strike, the lawyers are called in. Who foots the bill? The tax payers do. When there is an incompetent Superintendent and Principal in our district, who foots the bill? Our kids do!

And how do people get their master's in Physics? Oh that's right, they go to a class that is taught by a TEACHER! And to reply to the comment of why teachers get higher degrees...that statement may be true, but unlike the "real world" that is the ONLY way teachers are able to receive pay raises. There are no Christmas bonuses, comp. time, paid vacation days(see we are off in the summer which is our UNPAID vacation days), over time, company cars, a fat spending budget or any chance of moving up in position to obtain a fatter pay check. Teachers also have their contractual hours of work when they are teaching and to get everything else done, it's on their own time---so you can figure on teachers putting on average 10 hours a day----I know what people in the "real world" make that put those kind of hours in.

who knew wrote:

Oh, so teachers read this forum? Let us not forget the district wide strike a few years back! Since then everything changed.

I agree...what changed after the strike...certainly not the conditions of the contract...hhmmm.....check the other forum to see if you can find it!

really wrote:

<quoted text>
Please let's not forget the strike...and who is to blame for that...it takes two to tango!

very true. look what the administration gets paid in relation to neighboring districts, then look at what the teachers make. I wonder if Administrators need to pay $500 a month for family insurance like the rest of the staff?

Lot of posts from Orland Park...looks like Spencer is on here.

Well, Sesame Street looks like you may be a board member or an an acquaintance of one...because your information can only be coming from such a source. I could go on as well about behavior and promises that were made between staff and the board/adminstration behind closed doors that have fallen short of expectations, but I won't stoop so low. And the posts that you are claiming are from Spencer, because they are from Orland Park....there is more than 1 staff member who lives in Orland Park and remember it is just posting the town where the tower/server is coming from when the posting took place.

Sesame Street wrote:

Lot of posts from Orland Park...looks like Spencer is on here.

My question would have to be…how does Sesame Street know where Ms. Spencer lives? There are posts from all over, and many don’t seem to match the Chicago Ridgs location. If it is true that she lives in Orland Park, who would know that and then put it out there? Perhaps the school board or administration is lurking on these boards. If they are putting out personal information about teachers, they have hit an all time low. That’s right, Sesame Street is a substitute. I guess it’s a good thing that he or she is a “former” sub. Another good call by administration, hire substitutes that hand out personal info on teachers!!!

BTW Mrs. Spencer if you are reading these posts, we are behind you!

Bring back Mrs Nolan and her drawn on eye brows.

Mr. kostas would have straightened this whole mess out