Good idea to close a school. Then the district could sell it to the county to use for the over crowded jail and detention center. Keep cutting and that's what will happen. We will pay less now, but a lot more later. Just look at the number of 15-20 yr olds listed in this paper on a daily basis for drugs, burglary, etc.

Wasn't enrollment down this year? Would it be possible to close one of the schools and save money that way?

@ Allfor1and1forAll That's actually an awesome idea. We could call it Janesville Community days and the community could come in and host sessions that students would sign up for. I hope Bill Sodemann is reading this!!

Thank you Mamab for your hard work and contribution to the future of our community.

I was under the impression that teachers were exempt from paying school taxes since they work for the schools. The people on these blogs make it seem like teachers are not tax payers, but just servants to the tax payers. LOL!

This is such a difficult topic- as a resident and a parent, finding the money for another tax raise is difficult, but if it means that there are qualified teachers available in the district, my money is happily given. I am a teacher, but a tax-payer as well. I feel very lucky to be able to teach and work with kids on a daily basis. The teaching can often be the most comfortable part of the job... sometimes the most difficult is the public relations part and the negative interactions with community members. I think the best thing for all of us to remember is that we all need to invest in the kids because they will be the ones around taking care of us. We want them to have better options than we had- we want them to have choices... and an education opens doors that may otherwise be closed. Thank you to the families who are supportive. I am very appreciative of the supportive community members and families and I will continue to give everything I can to make sure that kids today have better options and more choices than they would without a diploma.

Good idea, Allfor1!

Teachers go into teaching because they love working with kids. They know going in that they are not going to get rich, but I think the Universities are failing to teach them about the lack of respect they will get from communities such as several in Rock County.

Maybe the district can schedule the furlough days to be the Monday and Tuesday after holloween. And the kids can attend with community members filling in for the teachers. They could each sign up for a class to take and save the districe/taxpayers a bunch of money! I'm sure most of the complainers on these blogs could easily take over for this easy profession. And for those that want to cut aides, we'll be sure to not have any support in your classroom for any of the students with Emotional Behavior Disabilities or Learning Disabilities. And then after the two days, we'll quiz the kids on what they learned. If they fail the quiz, they will have to spend time after school with their community teacher until they master what that person taught them.

We could do this each year and save a ton of money. I'd love to try and teach for day! LOL

Well said, RockEnvironmentalNetwork. Lack of respect for teachers is nothing new. But the fact that it's now often coming from parents reveals one reason why teaching has become more difficult today. Parents need to work with the teachers and not openly against them. Your children are watching and their behavior will often mimic the bad as well as the good. THANK YOU to all teachers everywhere from this very APPRECIATIVE parent for your dedication, commitment, and contributions to our culture and mutual futures. You deserve far more accolades than is ever acknowledged.

rodgersfan just doesn't get that some professions have more job security than others. Those thousands of teachers that are supposedly looking for jobs will probably find one. They might have to sub for a while or move, but because of the choices they made and schooling they have, they are more likely to find a job. You really can't even compare a teacher to an auto-worker. It would be more fair to compare them to a nurse or a doctor. A good number of teachers have masters degrees and more. If a nurse or doctor specializes they end up making more money, all a teacher can do is wait and see how the negotiations go. Beenthere1968 must have some kind of a chip on his shoulder since I wrote nothing about "ignorant autoworkers" not doing any work. These are his words. The workers at GM worked hard and were paid GENEROUSLY. The only thing that I was saying is that in this economy, it pays to go to school and to make yourself as marketable as possible. Teachers, nurses, and doctors have done this and now are reaping the benefits of choices they have made. It seems that many people are upset and suffering in this economy and want everyone to suffer with them. In truth, the people most responsible for the crisis we are in now are the Free Trade global capitalists in our government and the people that voted for them. The US is the only first world country with no workers' political party at all. It would be nice to see all of the workers that have suffered in this economy get together and form a political party that has their best interest at heart. The two parties that we have now are bought and paid for by big business. That is just a fact. US workers will never have a chance against China and other developing nations. We need to repeal NAFTA, CAFTA, and resume high tariffs to any and all goods that come into this country that are not made here. This is the only way the American worker can compete.

rodgersfan - Hope those kids fare well on their virtual jobs where they can sit by themselves, do things when they feel like it, don't have to really listen to an authority figure, or maybe they will be the employees at McDonald's that can't remember to give you a straw with a drink or napkins when you go through the drive-up window.

Rodgersfan - Wow! Hate teachers much? Your comments show what is wrong with education today - lack of respect and support for the people educating tomorrow's leaders.

teacher's need to remember there are thousands of highly qualified teacher's waiting to take their place.

Teacher's should be happy to have a job.

They are replaceable.

The other factor in some of these budget woes in shrinking enrollment.

Virtual schools are aw some, and have excelled where public schools have failed.

No whiny teachers, accelerated, AP, classes.

There are more hands on projects these students can participate in.

Our neighbors kids have virtual schooled for two years now.

The oldest will be a freshman in college this fall.

They also did not have to put up with school politics, bullying, and teacher's who never should have been a teacher.

Public schools had better wake up .. in thirty years they may be few and far between.

There are more and more good quality options out their for parents wanting a good solid education for their child without all the b.s..

reality_bites makes it very clear that those with advanced educations are the only ones deserving of a voice in this issue. After all those ignorant autoworkers were just cruising along do nothing for years, while enjoying hight pay!So the several million now unemployed citizens with college degrees must have taken the wrong majors? The truth is Janesville has lost several thousand very good paying jobs and they have nothing coming to replace that loss. Janesville taxpayers have been able to support a very high community lifestyle because it had all those good paying jobs. Now public employees including the teachers need to understand the future is not what the past was. Everyone will have to take pay cuts or the number of foreclosed homes will just increase. Raising taxes in a very high tax community would be stupid and counter-productive. I am so thankful I moved away to a place where people understand taxing doesn't create a good business environment and fiscal restraint is actually practiced.

Alright, let's talk reality now. Saying that teachers should be thankful to have jobs at all is like saying that nurses or doctors should be thankful to have jobs. No, they have skills that are valued by the market. In 90% of the cases in Janesville-if you lost your job and can't find another it is because you did not have skills that the market values-that's just a fact. Otherwise, you would be employed right now. If you cruised on the GM golden egg for years knowing full well that your lifestyle was contingent on GM instead of your own market value-then you had a good run, but accept responsibility now. Many of you have enjoyed 2 years of unemployment benefits since GM split and are mad that the party is winding down. You blame people in this community for your job loss because they drive a foreign car, but you have no problem buying foreign food and products from Mcdonalds and Walmart. Hush. Take some responsibility. Admit that you gambled and lost. That's a necessary place to begin. This venomous discussion isn't really about teachers at all...it is about a large part of the workforce still playing the victim and allowing itself to wallow in self pity. I'm not buying into your story. The bottom line for the teachers is this: I want a good group of teachers to teach my kids and I want them to feel good about this community. I have gone in to volunteer at my child's school multiple times this year-have you? All of you whining about being unemployed should have plenty of time. Go in and do something productive to support the education of the community. That being said, I think it is fair in light of the economy in general to ask teachers to accept a salary freeze and maintain their health benefits at the same level and I think it is reasonable for the community to accept a 6% tax increase while cutting costs in all areas.

PHBP- I have volunteered since my child was in kindergarten. I also remember when I went to school. There was no teacher aides, 'professional days' in the numbers a year, teachers missing class time because they are at a 'meeting' or 'conference' , oh my gosh towards the end of the school year, it was hard to catch some teachers between them trying to squeeze in their personal days, and days they were out part or all of a day for 'training meetings.' Good grief. Teachers from 30 years ago would love to have the situation you work in. So I have volunteered, teachers do work hard, but so do other professions I have witnessed. My aunt used to teach retired last year she even comments about how 'different ' and 'easier' teacher's have it since when she first started teaching.

ALSO those misbehaving kids?? The hungry kids, the kids who did not care, they still had them back then. But unlike today, there was no alternative setting these kids could go to.

The teachers back then really did do it all.

She just walks away when she hears younger teacher's complaining, because they have no idea.

It's embarrassing

rogersfan- your snide remarks aside, these items that I mention that are so critical to the district may now be part of the days that could be furloughed if that proposal goes through. That shows you how important these meetings are, not just my opinion. Open your eyes and realize that if the district would have less meetings for the purpose to announce the next meeting or to shuffle last decade's acronym into another Studer program, the teachers would probably be more apt to agree to the items you mention.

outnumbered: Many workers in fields other than education also did NOT receive "good raises" in better economic times. Many of these other workers were also highly educated. Nothing against you or teachers, but that gripe is not true and is getting old.

As a teacher, I have a hard time taking "the high road" when reading some of the close-minded comments from others who apparently do not value public education. I agree with RockEnvironmentalNetwork; to see first hand what school employees go through, come volunteer!

For those that don't think the teachers earn their pay, you need to spend some time in the schools - in the classrooms. Volunteers are welcomed and appreciated. You may end up getting an education. Schools and the kids in them, have changed.

badgerforlife, interesting. I wonder why more districts do not do this.

rodgersfan, I think your confusing Milton's health insurance with Janesville's. Janesville's plan is a cash cow for the district. The teachers over pay into their plan and at the end of the year do not get the extra back. The SDJ puts the teachers money into the fund balance that is over 20 million. The sdj would be crazy to change plans!

I agree with the first poster, open your eyes teacher's you have jobs.

Maybe you should be laid off, so then you could appreciate what you have now.

Because without some concessions that is what is going to happen.

spiderpig- I am sure you think those things should be eliminated, because you are a teacher and think you know it all.

Based on the W.K.C.E. scores from around the area including Janesville's it's clear there is room for improvement.

The one way you failed to mention for the district to save money is no raises this year, and a different health care plan for all employee's.

That would most certainly save money in a way everyone could see.

The One . . .
Are you "the one" who says, "Welcome to McDonalds, may I take your order? We'd hate to lose you too as McDonalds would probably have to shut down without you! And . . . would you like some fries with that?

And as most of the teachers say money is not the deciding factor, I would suggest that their health should be the number one priority.

Therefore, as much as we would hate to lose your irreplaceable talents, in the interest of your welfare, please put your health and well being first for a change and move to a district where you are appreciated.

It will be tough to get by without you but we will sacrifice. It is the least we can do for all you have sacrificed for us.

For all of those assuming that the teachers are demanding a raise... How much would it save to eliminate the professional development 12 hr joke? How much would it save to eliminate the health risk assessment joke? How much would it save to not force rookie teachers to take 20+ hours of training that repeats what they just finished in college? If the administration and board truly wanted to save money, they could eliminate these flimsy programs that cost money and are widely considered a joke by the people who participate in them.

sluggo...it's probably time to put your health as priority one (and lower your blood pressure) by taking your talents to a school district that appreciates all of your sacrifices.

Oh yes.. the teachers should be thankful that they have a job. Thankful that they worked their butts off in high school to be accepted to a decent college. Then worked their butts off to earn a 4.5 year degree. Then worked their butts off finding a job. Then worked their butts off getting a minimum of 6 graduate credits every 5 years, and quite probably a master's degree by taking a total of 30 credits at a cost of $14,000 and by writing a thesis. Doing this WHILE they worked their butts off trying to teach the children. And make sure that those children were safe, fed, that they had supplies, and that those children could learn enough to work their butts off...
They should be thankful - your right - they didn't EARN their job at all.

"I'm sure money wouldn't be as much of an issue if teachers' raises were similar to others during good times."

Apparently you have selective memory in regards to teachers receiving much better than others in regards to BENEFITS?

At this stage of the game,the cost of the benefits have exceeded any raises they could have gotten "during good times."

If some of you have been following the contract negotiations you should realize that teachers have not been pushing for a raise. The main focus has been for an improvement in working conditions. Teachers are looking for changes in areas like staff development. Unfortunately, it appears that no agreement can be made regarding changes to working conditions. Also, many of you need to remember that when the economy was good and others were getting good raises, teachers were under the QEO and not getting similar raises. I'm sure money wouldn't be as much of an issue if teachers' raises were similar to others during good times.

yes gmaof3...lol...but yet sooooo true!! ;)

I really do feel for the teachers, educating my grandchildren. They are simply trying to eek out a living in a tight economy. Here's the problem... We have sooooo many families with NO income, due to plant closings and situations out of our control. Just the fact that our teachers HAVE a job, should be enough.

I don't know how to express the irritation I have with employees wanting more than they had, with the economy as it is. Just doesn't seem right. sounds greedy to me... But bless our teachers... they are who we entrust our children with...

I'm talking out of BOTH sides of my mouth, aren't I?